RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of health education on schistosomiasis in Kunshan City, so as to provide the evidence for making the consolidating strategy in the late stage of interruption of schistosomiasis transmission. METHODS: The residents, middle school students and elementary school students were randomly sampled from one community, one middle school and one elementary school of each of two towns and they were investigated with interviews and questionnaires for the implementation of health education on schistosomiasis prevention and control. RESULTS: A total of 452 middle school students (232 cases) and primary school students (220 cases) were surveyed. The awareness rate of total schistosomiasis knowledge was 98.21% among the students (the awareness rate of basic schistosomiasis knowledge was 98.42% and the awareness rate of preventive schistosomiasis knowledge was 98.01%). Among the 220 elementary school students, the awareness rate of total schistosomiasis knowledge was 97.21% (the awareness rate of basic schistosomiasis knowledge was 97.60% and the awareness rate of preventive schistosomiasis knowledge was 96.82%). Among the 232 middle school students, the awareness rate of total schistosomiasis knowledge was 99.17% (χ2 = 34.661, compared with the rate of the elementary school students) [the awareness rate of basic schistosomiasis knowledge was 99.20% (χ2 = 13.045, compared with the rate of the elementary school students) and the awareness rate of preventive schistosomiasis knowledge was 99.14% (χ2 = 21.796, compared with the rate of the elementary school students)]. There were significant differences between the elementary school students and middle school students in above-mentioned awareness rates (all P < 0.001). There were schistosomiasis health education materials or teaching plans in all the four schools. Among the 402 residents surveyed, the awareness rate of total schistosomiasis knowledge was 98.87%. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of health education on schistosomiasis prevention and control is very well, and the total awareness rate of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge among the population has reached the goal (more than 95%) of the medium- and long-term planning of schistosomiasis prevention and control in Kunshan City.
