Mid-term effectiveness of medium-and-long-term programme of prevention and control of schistosomiasis in Jiangsu Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the mid-term effectiveness of the medium-and-long-term programme of the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in Jiangsu Province. Methods The programme was carried out in Jiangsu Province and the comprehensive measures relied mainly on snail control, detection and chemotherapy of schistosomiasis for residents and livestock. The mid-term effectiveness of the programme was observed and evaluated longitudinally. Results The coverage rate of snail control areas and the ratio of chemotherapy of schistosomiasis for residents and livestock rose year after year. The snail areas, the infected snail areas and the infection rate of schistosome for residents and livestock reduced year after year. There were negative correlations between the coverage rates of snail control and the infected snail areas, the number of settings with infected snails, the infection rate of schistosome for residents, the infection rate of schistosome for livestock and the morbidity of acute schistosomiasis, respectively (rInfected snail areas=-0.897,P=0.039;rNo. of settings with infected snail=-0.937,P=0.019;rInfection rate for residents=-0.913,P=0.031;rInfection rate for livestock=-0.991,P=0.001;rMorbidity of acute schistosomiasis=-0.894,P=0.041). There were negative correlations between the ratio of chemotherapy of schistosomiasis for residents and the infected snail areas, and between the ratio of chemotherapy of schistosomiasis for livestock and the infected snail areas (rRatio of chemotherapy for residents =-0.965,P=0.008;rRatio of chemotherapy for livestock=-0.921,P=0.027). There were negative correlations between the funds of schistosomiasis control and the infection rate of schistosome for residents livestock, respectively (rInfection rate for residents=-0.897,P=0.039;rInfection rate for livestock=-0.971,P=0.006). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that there were the linearity relationships between the infection rate of schistosome for residents and the coverage rates of snail control, and between the infection rate of schistosome for livestock and the coverage rates of snail control, and between the morbidity of acute schistosomiasis and the coverage rates of snail control. Conclusions The effect of the comprehensive strategy of schistosomiasis control which relies mainly on snail control, detection and chemotherapy of schistosomiasis for residents and livestock are remarkable. The snail control and chemotherapy are effective and immediate. The increased funds would be essential guarantee for control and elimination of schistosomiasis.