{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,26]],"date-time":"2026-10-26T17:59:38Z","timestamp":1793037578000,"version":"4.5.0"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013681","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762732800000}}],"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762128000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n \n Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a debilitating neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the parasite\n Schistosoma haematobium<\/jats:italic>\n . In Ghana, FGS is endemic, especially in communities around Lake Volta. Despite the vulnerability of women in these communities, limited literature exists on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study assessed KAP regarding FGS among women living in communities along the Volta Lake.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a multistage sampling technique to recruit women aged 18 years and above. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with KAP. Variables with log-likelihood ratio p-value \u22640.2 in univariable analysis were included in multivariable models. Statistical significance was set at p\u2009<\u20090.05.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n A total of 745 women were recruited. The mean age was 33 years (SD\u2009=\u200912.28), with the majority (36.4%) aged 21\u201330 years. Overall, 454 (60.9%) had poor knowledge of FGS, 446 (59.8%) had good attitudes, and 460 (61.7%) had poor practices. Women with good attitudes were significantly more likely to have good knowledge (aOR=4.67, 95% CI: 3.23\u20136.75, p\u2009<\u20090.001). Those with secondary education were more likely to have good attitudes (aOR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.16\u20134.40, p\u2009=\u20090.017) compared to those with no formal education. Women with good knowledge were also more likely to report good practices (aOR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.01\u20131.98, p\u2009=\u20090.041). Women residing in North Tongu were more likely to have good attitude (aOR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.68\u20134.63, p\u2009<\u20090.001) but poor practices (aOR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.36\u20130.97, p\u2009=\u20090.039).<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n Despite relatively good attitudes, women in FGS-endemic communities around the Volta Lake showed poor knowledge and practices. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health education, awareness campaigns and integrating FGS into already existing sexual and reproductive health programs to improve community knowledge and practices. These will contribute toward achieving the 2030 NTD targets under Sustainable Development Goal 3.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013681","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T18:40:26Z","timestamp":1762195226000},"page":"e0013681","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward Female Genital Schistosomiasis among women living in communities along the Volta Lake in Volta Region, Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4257-4067","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Joyce Berkumwin","family":"Der","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Beatrice Efua","family":"Donkoh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samuel Owusu","family":"Ansah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alberta Kwakyewaa","family":"Bofa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Frank Oppong","family":"Kwafo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref001","volume-title":"Schistosomiasis","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2023"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013681.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"968","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-022-07813-5","article-title":"Urogenital schistosomiasis in three different water access in the Senegal river basin: prevalence and monitoring praziquantel efficacy and re-infection levels","volume":"22","author":"B Senghor","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref003","unstructured":"UNAIDS. No more neglect \u2014 Female genital schistosomiasis and HIV: integrating sexual and reproductive health interventions to improve women\u2019s lives [Internet]. Geneva: UNAIDS; 2019 [cited 2025 May 11]. Available from: https:\/\/www.unaids.org\/sites\/default\/files\/media_asset\/female_genital_schistosomiasis_and_hiv_en.pdf"},{"issue":"7","key":"pntd.0013681.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0011530","article-title":"Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward female genital schistosomiasis among community women and healthcare professionals in Kimpese region, Democratic Republic of Congo","volume":"18","author":"CW Wambui","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"7","key":"pntd.0013681.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0008337","article-title":"Genital self-sampling compared with cervicovaginal lavage for the diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women: the BILHIV study","volume":"14","author":"AS Sturt","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0013681.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0007207","article-title":"A major hurdle in the elimination of urogenital schistosomiasis revealed: Identifying key gaps in knowledge and understanding of female genital schistosomiasis within communities and local health workers","volume":"13","author":"VA Kukula","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"11","key":"pntd.0013681.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0010901","article-title":"Knowledge, experiences, and practices of women affected by female genital schistosomiasis in rural Madagascar: a qualitative study on disease perception, health impairment and social impact","volume":"16","author":"A Schuster","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0013681.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed6030109","article-title":"Schistosomiasis with a focus on Africa","volume":"6","author":"OP Aula","year":"2021","journal-title":"Trop Med Infect Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013681.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-018-0483-7","article-title":"Reinfection of urogenital schistosomiasis in pre-school children in a highly endemic district in Northern Zimbabwe: a 12 months compliance study","volume":"7","author":"MJ Mutsaka-Makuvaza","year":"2018","journal-title":"Infect Dis Poverty"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref010","unstructured":"Asante F, Berger T, Engel S, Iskandarani M. Water security in the Ghanaian Volta Basin: patterns, determinants, and consequences [Internet]. ResearchGate; 2024 [cited 2025 Apr 17]. Available from: https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/286992774"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013681.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1186\/s41182-024-00660-x","article-title":"The burden of visually diagnosed female genital schistosomiasis among women with infertility in the Volta Region of Ghana","volume":"53","author":"VN Orish","year":"2025","journal-title":"Trop Med Health"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref012","article-title":"Breaking the silence of female genital schistosomiasis in Ghana\u2019s health system: a case of health workers within the FAST project","volume":"8","author":"M Dalaba","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref013","unstructured":"Ghana Statistical Service. Ghana 2021 Population and Housing Census [Internet]. Accra: GSS; 2021 [cited 2025 May 11]. Available from: https:\/\/microdata.statsghana.gov.gh\/index.php\/catalog\/110\/variable\/V1523"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref014","unstructured":"OpenEpi. OpenEpi Menu [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 9]. Available from: https:\/\/www.openepi.com\/Menu\/OE_Menu.htm"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref015","volume-title":"Female genital schistosomiasis: a pocket atlas for clinical health-care professionals [Internet]","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2015"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118548387","volume-title":"Applied logistic regression","author":"DW Hosmer","year":"2013","edition":"3"},{"issue":"9","key":"pntd.0013681.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009789","article-title":"We know about schistosomiasis but we know nothing about FGS: a qualitative assessment of knowledge gaps about female genital schistosomiasis among communities in Zanzibar and Northwestern Tanzania","volume":"15","author":"HD Mazigo","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1427402","DOI":"10.3389\/fitd.2024.1427402","article-title":"The hidden burden of female genital schistosomiasis: a cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Ghanaian communities","volume":"5","author":"AK Manyeh","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Trop Dis"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0013681.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1111\/jrh.12335","article-title":"Differences in rural and urban health information access and use","volume":"35","author":"X Chen","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Rural Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"pntd.0013681.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009131","article-title":"The impact of neglected tropical diseases on health and wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study of Kenya","volume":"15","author":"EA Ochola","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1395467","DOI":"10.3389\/fitd.2024.1395467","article-title":"A holistic approach to address female genital schistosomiasis in Ghana and Madagascar: the FGS Accelerated Scale Together (FAST) Package","volume":"5","author":"A Krentel","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Trop Dis"},{"issue":"2","key":"pntd.0013681.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-063392","article-title":"Urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) and female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) in Cameroon: an observational assessment of key reproductive health determinants of girls and women in the Matta Health Area","volume":"13","author":"CM Makia","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0013681.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0000059","article-title":"\u201cFemale genital schistosomiasis is a sexually transmitted disease\u201d: Gaps in healthcare workers\u2019 knowledge about female genital schistosomiasis in Tanzania","volume":"2","author":"HD Mazigo","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLOS Glob Public Health"},{"issue":"5","key":"pntd.0013681.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0302554","article-title":"Knowledge of female genital schistosomiasis and urinary schistosomiasis among final-year midwifery students in the Volta Region of Ghana","volume":"19","author":"WK Azanu","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"9","key":"pntd.0013681.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0012443","article-title":"Breaking the silence of female genital schistosomiasis in Ghana\u2019s health system: A case of health workers within the FAST project","volume":"18","author":"M Gyapong","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"8","key":"pntd.0013681.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0011513","article-title":"Urinogenital schistosomiasis knowledge, attitude, practices, and its clinical correlates among communities along water bodies in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Ghana","volume":"17","author":"S Essien-Baidoo","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1177\/11786302241234731","article-title":"Assessment of Urogenital Schistosomiasis Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Abobo Communities in Gambella Regional State, Southwestern Ethiopia","volume":"18","author":"T Mohammed","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environ Health Insights"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref028","volume-title":"Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021\u20132030 [Internet]","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2020"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0013681.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0010165","article-title":"Human rights as a framework for eliminating female genital schistosomiasis","volume":"16","author":"CR Williams","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013681.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1321069","DOI":"10.3389\/fitd.2024.1321069","article-title":"Minimum service package for the integration of female genital schistosomiasis into sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions","volume":"5","author":"LN Pillay","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Trop Dis"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013681","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762732800000}}],"container-title":["PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013681","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,10]],"date-time":"2025-11-10T18:45:20Z","timestamp":1762800320000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013681"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Angela Monica","family":"Ionica","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013681","relation":{},"ISSN":["1935-2735"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1935-2735","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]}}}