AWARENESS OF BILHARZIA AMONG FISHING COMMUNITIES ALONG LAKE VICTORIA SHORELINE IN BUIKWE DISTRICT, UGANDA

Schistosomiasis commonly known as “snail fever” or “bilharzia” is a parasitic disease caused
by blood flukes (trematode worms) of genus Schistosoma and affects hundreds of millions of
people and accounts for more than 40% of the global health burden due to neglected tropical
diseases. In Uganda, Schistosomiasis is endemic in 73 out of 121 districts and about 55% of the
populations of 36 million individuals are at risk. This study investigated the awareness of
transmission, symptoms and control of schistosomiasis among the people in Kiyindi fishing
community in Buikwe district, one of the bilharzia endemic areas along Lake Victoria shoreline.
A questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data and a total of 130participants were
included in the study. Findings show that 93.1% of the interviewees in Kiyindi landing site were
aware of the existence and transmission of bilharzia in their community. About 77.7% of the
entire communities were aware of the different symptoms of bilharzia and the majority (90%)
were aware of the preventive measure of bilharzia. Although the majority of the people found in
Kiyindi landing site were fully aware of the transmission of bilharzia in their community, only a
few were aware of how the infection is acquired; many were not aware that bilharzia infection is
through contact with infested water. Lake Victoria being the major source of water, Kiyindi
fishing community living at the shoreline has continued to be at risk of bilharzia infection. This
study recommends construction of more pit latrines in the community for proper sanitation
disposal in order to intervene the spread of bilharzia parasites in the surrounding water. The
community in Kiyindi landing site should also receive more sensitization about the transmission
and control of bilharzia.