COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND DISEASE CONTROL: A CASE OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN NIGERIA AND OTHER TROPICAL REGION

Nigeria had the highest prevalence rate of schistosomiasis in the world (WHO, 2013). Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and referred to as a ‘three-factor disease’ (schistosomes, snails, and humans) by Kloos (1985). The disease ranks high in priority in the light of socio-economics and public health significance in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Several million people all over the world suffer from severe morbidity due to this disease (King, 2009; Taylor, 2008). The epidemiology of schistosomiasis is more complex than expressed because of its zoonotic nature that involves more than 40 species of animal reservoirs, including cattle, dogs, pigs and rodents (Gryseels et al. 2006). The implication of this is that even after it has been controlled in human; more than 40 species of animals can help transmit the disease. The impact of schistosomiasis, therefore, is related to demographic, environmental, political, socio-economic and cultural factors (Collins et al., 2012).