{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T12:54:12Z","timestamp":1792587252171,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]],"date-time":"2021-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1632268800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]],"date-time":"2021-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1632268800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Parasites Vectors"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Control of schistosomiasis remains a priority in endemic areas. Local epidemiological data are necessary for a tailored control programme, including data on population behaviour in relation to the disease. The objective of this study was to assess schistosomiasis-related knowledge, attitudes and practices in the general population of Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9, a small city in Gabon, in order to optimise the design and implementation of a local control programme that is tailored to need.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>The study was cross-sectional in nature. Eligible adults and children living in the study area who volunteered (with informed consent) to participate in the study were interviewed using standardised questionnaires, one of which was a simplified version of the primary questionnaire for participants aged 6\u201313 years. Data on the participants\u2019 knowledge, attitudes and practices that enhance the risk for contracting schistosomiasis were collected.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>A total of 602 participants were included. The mean (\u00b1 standard deviation) age was 21.2 (\u00b1\u200915.0) years, the female:male gender ratio was 1.6 and 289 (48%) participants completed the simplified version the questionnaire. Of the 602 participants, 554 (92%) reported past or current contact with freshwater, 218 (36%) reported a history of a diagnosis of schistosomiasis and 193 (32%) reported past intake of praziquantel medication. The overall levels of knowledge and adequate attitudes toward schistosomiasis among young adults and adults were 68 and 73%, respectively. The proportion of participants pursuing risk-enhancing practices (REP) was 60% among the whole study population. Location was significantly associated with differences in knowledge and REP levels. A history of confirmed schistosomiasis and larger family size were significantly associated with an increase in good knowledge and REP levels. However, the indication of freshwater-associated activities was only associated with a significant increase in the REP level.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>The results of this survey reveal a high level of population exposure to schistosomiasis, which is in line with known prevalence of schistosomiasis in Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9 and its surroundings. The local population has a reasonable level of knowledge of and adequate attitudes toward schistosomiasis but the level of REP is high, particularly in areas where piped water is absent. In terms of interventions, improving hygiene should have the highest priority, but in a context where provision of safe water is difficult to achieve, the effectiveness of praziquantel treatment and the education of at-risk populations on the need for protective behaviours should be a prominent feature of any local control programme.<\/jats:p>\n              <\/jats:sec><jats:sec>\n                <jats:title>Graphical abstract<\/jats:title>\n                \n              <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-021-04905-0","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]],"date-time":"2021-09-22T10:03:03Z","timestamp":1632304983000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Knowledge, attitudes and practices pertaining to urogenital schistosomiasis in Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9 and surrounding areas, Gabon"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Jean Claude","family":"Dejon-Agob\u00e9","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeannot Fr\u00e9jus","family":"Zinsou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yabo Josiane","family":"Honkpehedji","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jean Ronald","family":"Edoa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bayod\u00e9 Rom\u00e9o","family":"Adegbit\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Romuald","family":"Beh-Mba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter Gottfried","family":"Kremsner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ayola Akim","family":"Adegnika","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martin Peter","family":"Grobusch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"4905_CR1","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Neglected tropical diseases; the Burden of Schistosomiasis. 2020. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/schistosomiasis\/index.html. Accessed 6 Oct 2020."},{"key":"4905_CR2","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO). Schistosomiasis. 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization. http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/schistosomiasis. Accessed 6 Oct 2020."},{"key":"4905_CR3","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO). Water sanitation and hygiene for accelerating and sustaining progress on neglected tropical diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2015. http:\/\/www.who.int\/water_sanitation_health\/publications\/wash-and-ntd-strategy\/en\/. Accessed 6 Oct 2020."},{"key":"4905_CR4","first-page":"467","volume":"31","author":"H Guanghan","year":"2000","unstructured":"Guanghan H, Dandan L, Shaoji Z, Xiaojun Z, Zenghua K, Guojun C. The role of health education for schistosomiasis control in heavy endemic area of Poyang Lake region, People\u2019s Republic of China. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2000;31:467\u201372.","journal-title":"Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health"},{"key":"4905_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2005.07.016","volume":"96","author":"G-H Hu","year":"2005","unstructured":"Hu G-H, Hu J, Song K-Y, Lin D-D, Zhang J, Cao C-L, et al. The role of health education and health promotion in the control of schistosomiasis: experiences from a 12-year intervention study in the Poyang Lake area. Acta Trop. 2005;96:232\u201341.","journal-title":"Acta Trop"},{"key":"4905_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmii.2015.12.003","volume":"51","author":"TSB Maseko","year":"2018","unstructured":"Maseko TSB, Mkhonta NR, Masuku SKS, Dlamini SV, Fan C-K. Schistosomiasis knowledge, attitude, practices, and associated factors among primary school children in the Siphofaneni area in the Lowveld of Swaziland. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2018;51:103\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jmii.2015.12.003.","journal-title":"J Microbiol Immunol Infect"},{"key":"4905_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0143667","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0143667","volume":"10","author":"S Dawaki","year":"2015","unstructured":"Dawaki S, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Ithoi I, Ibrahim J, Abdulsalam AM, Ahmed A, et al. The menace of Schistosomiasis in Nigeria: knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding Schistosomiasis among rural communities in Kano State. PLoS ONE. 2015;10:e0143667.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"4905_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0004504","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0004504","volume":"10","author":"C Rassi","year":"2016","unstructured":"Rassi C, Kajungu D, Martin S, Arroz J, Tallant J, Zegers de Beyl C, et al. Have you heard of Schistosomiasis? Knowledge, attitudes and practices in Nampula Province, Mozambique. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10:e0004504.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"4905_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"388","DOI":"10.1186\/2193-1801-3-388","volume":"3","author":"U Ateba Ngoa","year":"2014","unstructured":"Ateba Ngoa U, Zinsou JF, Kassa RFK, Ngoune Feugap E, Honkpehedji YJ, Massinga-Loembe M, et al. Assessment of the effect of Schistosoma haematobium co-infection on malaria parasites and immune responses in rural populations in Gabon: study protocol. Springerplus. 2014;3:388.","journal-title":"Springerplus"},{"key":"4905_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.15-0703","volume":"95","author":"U Ateba-Ngoa","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ateba-Ngoa U, Jones S, Zinsou JF, Honkpehedji J, Adegnika AA, Agobe J-CD, et al. Associations between helminth infections, Plasmodium falciparum parasite carriage and antibody responses to sexual and asexual stage malarial antigens. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016;95:394\u2013400.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"4905_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2016.11.001","volume":"47","author":"G Mombo-Ngoma","year":"2017","unstructured":"Mombo-Ngoma G, Honkpehedji J, Basra A, Mackanga JR, Zoleko RM, Zinsou J, et al. Urogenital schistosomiasis during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight delivery: analysis of a prospective cohort of pregnant women and their offspring in Gabon. Int J Parasitol. 2017;47:69\u201374.","journal-title":"Int J Parasitol"},{"key":"4905_CR12","unstructured":"PopulationData.net. Fiche pays-Gabon. PopulationData.net. 2020. https:\/\/www.populationdata.net\/pays\/gabon\/. Accessed 6 Oct 2020."},{"key":"4905_CR13","unstructured":"Medecins du Monde. 2012. The Kap survey model\u2014knowledge attitude and practices. Medecin du Monde. 2012. https:\/\/www.medecinsdumonde.org\/en\/actualites\/publications\/2012\/02\/20\/kap-survey-model-knowledge-attitude-and-practices. Accessed 28 Feb 2019."},{"key":"4905_CR14","unstructured":"Handicap International. Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques dans l\u2019\u00e9ducation au risque: mettre en \u0153uvre les \u00e9tudes CAP. Handicap International. 2009. http:\/\/www.hiproweb.org\/uploads\/tx_hidrtdocs\/GuideCAPFR.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2019."},{"key":"4905_CR15","volume-title":"Biostatistics: a foundation for analysis in the health sciences","author":"WW Daniel","year":"1999","unstructured":"Daniel WW. Biostatistics: a foundation for analysis in the health sciences. 7th ed. New York: Wiley; 1999.","edition":"7"},{"key":"4905_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2008.08.010","volume":"42","author":"PA Harris","year":"2009","unstructured":"Harris PA, Taylor R, Thielke R, Payne J, Gonzalez N, Conde JG. Research electronic data capture (REDCap)\u2013a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. J Biomed Inform. 2009;42:377\u201381.","journal-title":"J Biomed Inform"},{"key":"4905_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.19-0835","volume":"103","author":"JC Dejon-Agob\u00e9","year":"2020","unstructured":"Dejon-Agob\u00e9 JC, Honkpehedji YJ, Zinsou JF, Edoa JR, Ad\u00e9gbit\u00e8 BR, Mangaboula A, et al. Epidemiology of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth coinfections among schoolchildren living in Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9, Gabon. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;103:325\u201333.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"4905_CR18","first-page":"124","volume":"15","author":"T Hailu","year":"2020","unstructured":"Hailu T, Mulu W, Abera B. Effects of water source, sanitation and hygiene on the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni among school age children in Jawe District, Northwest Ethiopia. Iran J Parasitol. 2020;15:124\u20139.","journal-title":"Iran J Parasitol"},{"key":"4905_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0007358","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0007358","volume":"13","author":"I Francisco","year":"2019","unstructured":"Francisco I, Jiz M, Rosenbaum M, Baltazar P, Steele JA. Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to schistosomiasis transmission and control in Leyte, Philippines. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019;13:e0007358.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"4905_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"734","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-019-4253-3","volume":"19","author":"H Sacolo-Gwebu","year":"2019","unstructured":"Sacolo-Gwebu H, Kabuyaya M, Chimbari M. Knowledge, attitudes and practices on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths among caregivers in Ingwavuma area in uMkhanyakude district, South Africa. BMC Infect Dis. 2019;19:734.","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"4905_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2784","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002784","volume":"8","author":"GO Odhiambo","year":"2014","unstructured":"Odhiambo GO, Musuva RM, Atuncha VO, Mutete ET, Odiere MR, Onyango RO, et al. Low levels of awareness despite high prevalence of schistosomiasis among communities in Nyalenda informal settlement, Kisumu city, western Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8:e2784.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"8","key":"4905_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-015-1050-8","volume":"25","author":"H Sady","year":"2015","unstructured":"Sady H, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Atroosh WM, Al-Delaimy AK, Nasr NA, Dawaki S, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards schistosomiasis among rural population in Yemen. Parasites Vectors. 2015;25(8):436.","journal-title":"Parasit esVectors"},{"key":"4905_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"744","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-3156.2003.01080.x","volume":"8","author":"S Sow","year":"2003","unstructured":"Sow S, de Vlas SJ, Mbaye A, Polman K, Gryseels B. Low awareness of intestinal schistosomiasis in northern Senegal after 7 years of health education as part of intense control and research activities. Trop Med Int Health. 2003;8:744\u20139.","journal-title":"Trop Med Int Health"},{"key":"4905_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.4103\/0976-500X.162004","volume":"6","author":"J Singh","year":"2015","unstructured":"Singh J. International conference on harmonization of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2015;6:185\u20137.","journal-title":"J Pharmacol Pharmacother"},{"key":"4905_CR25","unstructured":"World Medical Association. The World Medical Association\u2014D\u00e9claration d\u2019Helsinki de L\u2019AMM. Principes \u00e9thiques applicables \u00e0 la recherche m\u00e9dicale impliquant des \u00eatres humains. 2018. https:\/\/www.wma.net\/fr\/policies-post\/declaration-dhelsinki-de-lamm-principes-ethiques-applicables-a-la-recherche-medicale-impliquant-des-etres-humains\/. Accessed 23 Apr 2018."}],"container-title":["Parasites &amp; Vectors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-021-04905-0.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13071-021-04905-0\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-021-04905-0.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]],"date-time":"2021-09-22T10:14:50Z","timestamp":1632305690000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13071-021-04905-0"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]]},"references-count":25,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,12]]}},"alternative-id":["4905"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13071-021-04905-0","relation":{},"ISSN":["1756-3305"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1756-3305","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,22]]},"assertion":[{"value":"25 January 2021","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"29 July 2021","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"22 September 2021","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The study protocol was reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee of CERMEL (Reference number: SRC-Number: 2019.1) and was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of CERMEL (CEI)\u00a0under reference number IEC-CERMEL 003\/2019. The study was conducted in line with the ICH-GCP requirements [] and the Declaration of Helsinki []. As part of the inclusion procedure, volunteers aged \u2265 18 years provided a signed informed consent before their participation in the study, while the informed consent of those aged < 18 years was provided by their legal representative. After selecting the household according to the sampling procedure, we explained to the head of the family or his\/her representative the aim of the study and requested from him\/her the authorization to proceed with the randomization. From the residents of the house, the study was explained to those randomly selected, and if informed consent was granted, the interview was conducted.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"486"}}