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Table 4 Association of knowledge of women about schistosomiasis with their age and religion

From: Knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding schistosomiasis among women living in a highly endemic rural district in Zimbabwe: implications on infections among preschool-aged children

Variable

Age (years)

Religion

< 30

n (%)

≥ 30

n (%)

OR

95% CI

Non-apostolic

n (%)

Apostolic

n (%)

OR

95% CI

Knowledge of bilharzia

 Woman thinks she is currently infected

61 (31.1)

61 (30.1)

1.0

0.6–1.5

20 (32.3)

102 (30.3)

0.9

0.5–1.6

What are the signs and symptoms of bilharzia infection?a

 Haematuria

138 (70.4)

155 (76.4)

1.4

0.9–2.1

45 (72.6)

248 (73.6)

1.1

0.6–1.9

 Weight loss

46 (23.5)

52 (25.6)

1.1

0.7–1.8

9 (14.5)

89 (26.4)

2.1

1.0–4.5**

 Dysuria

19 (9.7)

20 (9.9)

1.0

0.5–2.0

7 (11.3)

32 (9.5)

0.8

0.3–2.0

 Abdominal pain

9 (4.6)

17 (8.4)

1.9

0.8–4.4

3 (4.8)

23 (6.8)

1.4

0.4–5.0

 Genital itchiness in women

2 (1.0)

6 (3.0)

2.9

0.6–14.7

1 (1.6)

7 (2.1)

1.3

0.2–10.7

 I don’t know

8 (4.1)

7 (3.5)

0.8

0.3–2.4

1 (1.6)

14 (4.2)

2.6

0.3–20.5

What are the complications of untreated chronic bilharzia infection?a

 Infertility

72 (36.7)

98 (48.3)

1.6

1.1–2.4*

20 (32.3)

150 (44.5)

1.7

0.9–3.0

 Mental disturbance

21 (10.7)

33 (16.3)

1.6

0.9–2.9

10 (16.1)

44 (13.1)

0.8

0.4–1.6

 Death

14 (7.1)

17 (8.4)

1.2

0.6–2.5

9 (14.5)

22 (6.5)

0.4

0.2–0.9*

 I don’t know

8 (4.1)

8 (3.9)

1.0

0.4–2.6

5 (8.1)

11 (3.3)

0.4

0.1–1.1

What are the prevention and control methods of bilharzia?a

 Taking anti-schistosomal medicines

55 (28.1)

48 (23.7)

0.8

0.5–1.2

13 (21.0)

90 (26.7)

1.4

0.7–2.7

 Avoiding use of unprotected water bodies

86 (43.9)

91 (44.8)

1.0

0.7–1.5

35 (56.5)

142 (42.1)

0.6

0.3–1.0*

 Health education

19 (9.7)

17 (8.4)

0.8

0.4–1.7

4 (6.5)

32 (9.5)

1.5

0.5–4.5

 Provision of WASH facilities

29 (14.8)

33 (16.3)

1.1

0.7–1.9

11 (18.0)

51 (15.1)

0.8

0.4–1.7

Risky perceptionsa

 School-aged children most likely infected

149 (76.0)

158 (77.8)

1.1

0.7–1.8

45 (72.6)

262 (77.7)

1.3

0.7–2.4

 Children aged ≤ 5 years most likely infected

102 (52.0)

97 (47.8)

0.8

0.6–1.2

35 (56.5)

164 (48.7)

0.7

0.4–1.3

 Adult women most likely infected

33 (16.8)

46 (22.7)

1.4

0.9–2.4

10 (16.1)

69 (20.5)

1.3

0.6–2.8

 Adult men most likely infected

20 (10.2)

34 (16.8)

1.8

1.0–3.2**

5 (8.1)

49 (14.5)

1.9

0.7–5.1

Practicesa

 Use unsafe water for domestic purposesb

29 (13.7)

30 (14.0)

1.0

0.6–1.8

8 (12.7)

51 (14.1)

1.1

0.5–2.5

 Use unsafe water for laundryb

179 (84.4)

174 (81.3)

1.2

0.8–2.1

52 (82.5)

301 (82.9)

1.0

0.5–2.0

 Bath in unsafe waterb

84 (39.6)

85 (39.7)

1.0

0.7–1.5

35 (55.6)

134 (36.9)

2.1

1.2–3.7*

Allow PSAC to play in unsafe water while they are bathing

118 (55.7)

127 (59.4)

0.9

0.6–1.3

38 (60.3)

207 (57.0)

1.1

0.7–2.0

 Bath PSAC using boiled water

198 (93.4)

198 (92.5)

0.9

0.4–1.8

58 (92.1)

338 (93.1)

1.2

0.4–3.2

 Allow PSAC to help water the garden

56 (26.4)

68 (31.8)

1.3

0.9–2.0

24 (38.1)

100 (27.6)

0.6

0.4–1.1

 Have a toilet at home

170 (80.2)

173 (80.8)

1.0

0.6–1.7

57 (90.5)

286 (78.8)

0.4

0.2–0.9*

 Use of a toilet for excreta disposal

180 (84.9)

182 (85.1)

1.0

0.6–1.7

60 (95.2)

302 (83.2)

0.2

0.1–0.8*

 Discussion of bilharzia at home

176 (89.8)

198 (97.5)

4.5

1.7–12.2*

58 (93.6)

316 (93.8)

1.0

0.3–3.1

  1. aMultiple responses were considered
  2. bThose who rely solely on unsafe water for the indicated water contact activities
  3. * Significant association (P < 0.05); ** Borderline significance (P = 0.05)
  4. Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; PSAC, preschool-aged children; WASH, water, sanitation and hygiene