Water contact activities and schistosomiasis infection in Menoufia, Nile Delta, Egypt

With the aim of developing schistosomiasis health education programmes through primary health care, water contact activities were studied in two large villages in Menoufia Governorate. In 1994, an in-depth epidemiological study performed on a calculated sample of households revealed that certain water contact activities [grain washing, irrigation, ablution] resulted in higher schistosomiasis infection rates than others. The irrigation system used appeared to be significantly related to the infection rate. Health education and community participation in schistosomiasis control via primary health care are recommended

Domestic water supplies and community self-help in Sidi Ghazzi Nile Delta; a strategy for schistosomiasis control Part V- the role of timed canal water contact in human schistosomiasis infection

Since schistosoma cercarial success is highly related to most of the ecological conditions which play a role in determining human water contact behaviour, this study aimed at securing the water contact day hour and duration habits of Sidi Ghazzi villagers, relative to schistosomiasis infection. Applying the same methodology described in part IV of project the water contact frequency, time and duration is discussed by age and sex in terms of activities and habits of each category. Contact duration was found not only to be related to the overall schistosomiasis infection rate, but also to play a role in determining the relative Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium rates, so that the longer the duration the higher the risk in Schistosoma haematobium while no such trend was found in Schistosoma mansoni. Again, Schistosoma mansoni infection was highest between noon and 3 p.m., while Schistosoma haematobium rates continued to rise till the late day hours. It is concluded that schistosomiasis control programs in primary health care should be sectorially planned for the different community age categories and for each of the two sexes according to the water contact behaviour and infection risk of each. This would necessitate detailed socioepidemiological studies of the various schistosomiasis endemic areas and communities for cost effective schistosomaisis control

Domestic water supplies and community self help in Sidi Ghazzi - Nile Delta, A strategy for schistosomiasis control part IV the role of peasant canal contact activities in schistosomiasis infection

Since schistosomasis is a man made disease WHO [1979] recommended human behavioural research of which water contact studies were stressed for schistosomiasis control. In this study aiming at identifying water contact activities in Sidi Ghazzi and relative to schistosomiasis infection, six water contact-points were observed daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for one week per season. Data was related to schistosomiasis infection assessed over two consecutive years during the observation period. Results indicate that the pattern of water contact activities has not changed much since twenty years at the time of the Egypt 49 Project by Farouk and Mallah [1966]. The highest frequency activities are washing the body parts, drinking and water filling [activities of short duration] followed by clothes and utensil washing and animal washing [activities of long duration i.e. over 10 minutes]. Each activity is discussed in terms of duration and body surface exposure. Swimming and bathing habits are related to the highest schistosomiasis infection risk followed by excretion; the former probably because of the exposure of the entire body surface for a long duration and the latter probably due to the usual subsequence of washing up and ablution which expose a considerable area suitable for cercarial penetration several times a day. The seasonal infection risk patterns of most activities were highest in Summer which is attributed to the more intensive human contact and the higher rates of snail infection during that season, followed by Spring