01566nas a2200217 4500000000100000008004100001653002200042653002300064653002000087653001500107653002200122653003900144653001800183653002100201100001200222700001200234700001400246245015400260520092000414022001401334 2015 d10aSystematic review10aSub-Saharan Africa10aschistosomiasis10aPrevention10aPatient education10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aInterventions10aHealth Education1 aPrice A1 aVerma A1 aWelfare W00aAre health education interventions effective for the control and prevention of urogenital schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review.3 a

An estimated 129 million people are infected with urogenital schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. Current control recommendations endorse mass administration of praziquantel. Health education is an important component of effective schistosomiasis prevention and control, but there has been limited research on its effectiveness. This paper reviews the effectiveness of health education as an intervention in the prevention and control of urogenital schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. The outcomes of interest were prevalence, incidence or transmission of schistosomiasis, behaviour change associated with infection, or changes in knowledge of the disease. The findings from this review suggest that health education has a beneficial impact on knowledge and understanding of schistosomiasis within the target groups. However, further research is needed due to the poor quality of the included studies.

 a1878-3503