Paul Josephat Njige¹*, Faraja Lyamuya²
¹My Medicine
²Ministry of Health, United Republic of Tanzania
*Correspondence: Paul Josephat Njige, My Medicine, United Republic of Tanzania, E-mail: paulnjige3@gmail.com
Citation: Paul Josephat, Njige. “Assessment of Schistosomiasis Management at Healthcare Facilities in Kigoma, Tanzania.” J Healthc Adv Nur (2025): 128. DOI: 10.59462/3068-1758.3.2.128.
Received date: 01 August 2025; Accepted date: 14 August 2025; Published date: 22 August 2025
Background: Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Tanzania, particularly in Kigoma Region, where frequent water contact activities promote transmission. Effective management at healthcare facilities is critical for disease control and elimination efforts.
Objective: To assess schistosomiasis management practices at healthcare facilities in Kigoma, Tanzania, with emphasis on diagnostic capacity, treatment availability, and implementation challenges.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between March and June 2024 among 47 healthcare workers from 11 healthcare facilities in Kigoma Region. Structured questionnaires were administered to doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and medical laboratory personnel. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: Most healthcare workers reported being very familiar with schistosomiasis, including 69.2% of doctors, 63.6% of pharmacists, 53.8% of nurses, and 60% of medical laboratory personnel. Praziquantel was identified as the treatment of choice by 84.6% of doctors. Key challenges included medication stock-outs (45.5% of pharmacists), patient education and treatment adherence issues (69.2% of nurses), and inadequate diagnostic equipment or reagents (30% of laboratory personnel). More than 80% of healthcare workers reported no access to in-service training on schistosomiasis management.
Conclusion: Although healthcare workers demonstrated moderate to good knowledge of schistosomiasis, effective management was constrained by limited diagnostic capacity, inconsistent drug supply, insufficient training, and patient-related challenges. Strengthening healthcare facility capacity through improved resource allocation, continuous professional development, and integrated management approaches is essential for effective schistosomiasis control.
Keywords: Schistosomiasis; Healthcare management; Kigoma; Tanzania; Diagnosis; Treatment barriers
Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases worldwide, affecting more than 240 million people, with approximately 90% of cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. In Tanzania, the disease remains endemic, particularly in Kigoma Region, where proximity to Lake Tanganyika and frequent water contact activities increase the risk of transmission [2].
The disease is caused by parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, with Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium being the predominant species in Tanzania. Infection results in significant morbidity, including hepatosplenomegaly, urogenital complications, and long-term sequelae such as liver fibrosis and bladder cancer [3].
Effective management of schistosomiasis at healthcare facility level is essential for both individual patient outcomes and broader public health control. The World Health Organization recommends accurate diagnosis, timely treatment with praziquantel, and integrated control strategies as key components of schistosomiasis management [4].
Despite these guidelines, gaps persist in the implementation of schistosomiasis management practices, particularly in resource-limited settings. Common challenges include inadequate diagnostic capacity, inconsistent availability of praziquantel, and limited healthcare worker training [5].
This study assessed schistosomiasis management practices at healthcare facilities in Kigoma, Tanzania, focusing on diagnostic methods, treatment availability, and barriers to effective implementation.
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from March to June 2024 in Kigoma Region, Tanzania. The region was selected due to its endemicity for schistosomiasis and proximity to Lake Tanganyika.
The study population comprised healthcare workers involved in schistosomiasis diagnosis, treatment, or management, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and medical laboratory personnel.
A total of 47 healthcare workers were recruited from 11 healthcare facilities in Kigoma Region. Purposive sampling was used to ensure representation across all professional categories.
Data were collected using structured questionnaires tailored to each professional group. Information captured included demographic characteristics, familiarity with schistosomiasis, diagnostic and treatment practices, availability of resources, training opportunities, and challenges in disease management.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Categorical variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages.
Ethical approval was obtained from relevant authorities. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Confidentiality and anonymity were strictly maintained.
All 47 healthcare workers completed the questionnaires, yielding a response rate of 100%.
The participants included 13 doctors (27.7%), 11 pharmacists (23.4%), 13 nurses (27.7%), and 10 medical laboratory personnel (21.3%). Most participants across all professional categories were aged 30–39 years.
Overall familiarity with schistosomiasis was high. A majority of doctors (69.2%), pharmacists (63.6%), nurses (53.8%), and laboratory personnel (60%) reported being very familiar with the disease and its management.
Most laboratory personnel (80%) were aware of nationally recommended diagnostic methods for schistosomiasis; however, diagnostic capacity was limited by inadequate equipment and reagents. Praziquantel was reported as the standard treatment by 84.6% of doctors.
Key challenges included medication stock-outs reported by pharmacists (45.5%), patient education and treatment adherence issues reported by nurses (69.2%), and lack of diagnostic equipment reported by laboratory staff (30%).
More than 80% of pharmacists, nurses, and laboratory personnel reported having no access to specific training programs on schistosomiasis management. Interprofessional collaboration was limited across facilities.
The findings demonstrate that healthcare workers in Kigoma possess moderate to good knowledge of schistosomiasis; however, effective management is constrained by systemic and resource-related barriers. Limited diagnostic capacity, inconsistent praziquantel supply, inadequate training opportunities, and patient adherence challenges were the most prominent issues. These findings are consistent with reports from other schistosomiasis-endemic settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
Schistosomiasis management at healthcare facilities in Kigoma is limited by gaps in diagnostic capacity, medication availability, training, and patient education. Addressing these challenges through targeted investments, continuous professional development, and integrated healthcare approaches is essential for strengthening schistosomiasis control and elimination efforts in Tanzania.
The authors acknowledge all healthcare workers and healthcare facilities in Kigoma Region for their participation and cooperation during the study.
PJN: Conceptualization, data collection, analysis, and manuscript writing.
FL: Supervision, methodological review, and manuscript revision.
This study received no external funding.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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