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Table 6 Association of knowledge, perceptions and practices of women regarding schistosomiasis with their community of residence

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

Community

Chihuri

Kaziro

Mupfure

Nduna

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

Knowledge of bilharzia

 Caregiver thinks she is currently infected

1.5

0.8–3.1

1.2

0.6–2.7

2.4

1.3–4.5*

0.7

0.3–1.9

What are the signs and symptoms of bilharzia infection?a

 Haematuria

0.8

0.4–1.5

0.9

0.5–1.9

3.7

1.8–7.4*

1.0

0.4–2.1

 Weight loss

0.3

0.1–0.5*

0.2

0.1–0.4*

0.3

0.1–0.5*

0.6

0.3–1.3

 Dysuria

8.2

1.8–37.3*

7.2

1.5–34.8*

3.0

0.6–14.4

5.9

1.1–31.6*

 Abdominal pain

6.4

0.8–54.2

1.4

0.1–22.9

6.9

0.9–54.6

20.8

2.5–172.6*

 Genital itchiness in women

0.7

0.1–3.7

–

–

0.3

0.0–1.8

–

–

 I don’t know

0.4

0.1–1.8

–

–

0.4

0.1–1.6

0.6

0.1–3.1

What are the complications of untreated chronic bilharzia infection?a

 Infertility

1.2

0.6–2.1

0.2

0.1–0.4*

0.4

0.3–0.8*

0.2

0.1–0.5*

 Mental disturbance

0.3

0.1–0.8*

0.8

0.3–2.0

0.7

0.3–1.5

1.2

0.4–3.0

 Death

0.4

0.1–1.6

0.8

0.2–2.8

1.5

0.6–3.9

0.3

0.0–2.4

 I don’t know

1.0

0.2–5.1

3

0.7–12.5

0.9

0.2–3.9

–

–

What are the prevention and control methods of bilharzia?a

 Taking anti-schistosomal medicines

0.1

0.1–0.3*

0.3

0.2–0.6*

0.2

0.1–0.3*

0.3

0.1–0.7*

 Avoiding use of unprotected water bodies

1.2

0.6–2.1

1.0

0.5–1.9

1.3

0.7–2.2

0.6

0.3–1.4

 Health education

3.6

1.1–11.6*

4.0

1.2–13.3*

1.3

0.4–4.4

0.5

0.1–4.7

 Provision of WASH facilities

1.8

0.7–4.9

3.3

1.2–8.8*

2.1

0.8–5.1

2.7

0.9–8.1

Risky perceptionsa

 School-aged children most likely infected

0.6

0.2–1.9

0.1

0.0–0.3*

0.2

0.1–0.6*

0.1

0.0–0.2*

 Children aged ≤ 5 years most likely infected

0.3

0.1–0.6*

3.6

1.8–7.5*

2.0

1.1–3.4*

1.1

0.5–2.3

 Adult women most likely infected

0.2

0.0–0.6*

1.5

0.7–3.4

2.0

1.0–3.9*

0.2

0.0–1.0**

 Adult men most likely infected

0.2

0.1–0.9*

0.7

0.3–2.1

2.1

1.0–4.3

0.5

0.1–2.0

Practicesa

 Use unsafe water for domestic purposesb

2.1

0.8–5.2

0.8

0.2–2.3

2.6

1.1–5.9*

1.0

0.3–3.4

 Use unsafe water for laundryb

0.6

0.3–1.4

1.4

0.7–3.0

0.7

0.3–1.3

0.2

0.0–0.8*

 Bath in unsafe waterb

0.5

0.3–1.0*

0.4

0.2–0.8*

0.3

0.2–0.6

0.2

0.1–0.5*

 Allow PSAC to play in unsafe water while they are bathing

0.4

0.2–0.8*

0.9

0.5–1.8

0.5

0.3–0.8

1.5

0.7–3.0

 Bath PSAC using boiled water

1.7

0.6–4.8

–

–

1.4

0.5–3.5

3.1

0.6–15.6

 Allow PSAC to help water the garden

2.9

1.5–5.5*

1.5

0.7–3.0

1.4

0.8–2.7

0.3

0.1–1.0**

 Have a toilet at home

1.5

0.7–3.5

1.5

0.6–3.8

0.7

0.4–1.4

0.4

0.2–0.9*

 Use of a toilet for excreta disposal

1.9

0.6–5.8

0.8

0.3–2.2

0.5

0.2–1.0

0.2

0.1–0.6*

 Discussion of bilharzia at home

2.1

0.4–11.5

0.4

0.1–1.4

0.8

0.2–2.3

0.6

0.1–2.9

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