Assessment of Knowledge about Schistosomiasis among Paddy Rice Farmers in Doho and Kibimba, Eastern Uganda

Aim: To assess knowledge levels on schistosomiasis in farmers and laborers working in paddy rice fields in eastern Uganda.
Study Design: A cross-sectional survey among farmers practicing paddy rice farming in Doho and Kibimba.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in April 2014 in Doho and Kibimba rice schemes, eastern Uganda.
Methodology: Unequal number of respondents was interviewed and these were selected purposively. Ninety samples (90) were used, 50 from Doho and 40 from Kibimba. A chi-squared test was used to test schistosomiasis knowledge differences among respondents between schemes.
Results: A chi squared test indicated that there were significant differences in the number of people who had suffered from schistosomiasis at Doho and Kibimba rice schemes (P<0.001). For example Four percent (4%) of respondents in Doho indicated to have suffered from schistosomiasis at one time while 35% interviewed at Kibimba scheme had suffered from this disease. Although there were variations in the proportions of respondents on the rest of the knowledge items between the two sites, these variations were not statistically significant (P<0.05). About 63% of respondents in Kibimba scheme declared to have received schistosomiasis education from the Ministry of health officers. On the contrary, 80% of respondents in Doho scheme indicated that they have not received any schistosomiasis training/education of any kind.
Conclusion: Schistosomiasis is prevalent amongst paddy rice farmers in Doho and Kibimba schemes. Although the farmers at Kibimba were more sensitized about this disease, this did not have a significant effect on the level of knowledge about the farmers in the two schemes. We recommend that a much more intensive study supported by laboratory test be done to comprehensively bring out the magnitude of the disease and its impacts in order to inform policy and management decisions by government and respective public and private stakeholders.