Male Genital Schistosomiasis Along the Shoreline of Lake Malawi: Baseline Prevalence and Associated Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Local Fishermen in Mangochi District, Malawi

Kayuni, Seke, Alharbi, Mohammad, Makaula, Peter, Lampiao, Fanuel, Juziwelo, Lazarus, LaCourse, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9261-7136 and Stothard, Russell ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-3420 (2021) 'Male Genital Schistosomiasis Along the Shoreline of Lake Malawi: Baseline Prevalence and Associated Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Local Fishermen in Mangochi District, Malawi'. Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 9, Issue 590695.

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Abstract

Male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) is an often-overlooked chronic consequence of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) associated with Schistosoma haematobium eggs and associated pathologies in the genital system of afflicted men . Despite the first formal description of MGS in 1911 by Madden , its epidemiology, diagnostic testing and case management of today are not well described. However, since several interactions between MGS and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are known, , there is renewed public health interest in MGS across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To shed new light upon MGS in Malawi, a longitudinal cohort study was set up among fishermen along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi in Mangochi District, Malawi. to document its prevalence and assess mens’ knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards this disease. After providing informed written consent, fishermen (n=376) aged 18+ years (median age: 30 years, range: 18-70 years) were recruited and submitted urine and semen for point-of-care (POC) field and laboratory diagnostic parasitological tests. Individual questionnaires were administered to assess their KAP,. with praziquantel (PZQ) treatment provided to all participants.
Baseline prevalence of MGS (S. haematobium eggs in semen) was 10.4% (n = 114, median: 5.0, range: 0.1 – 30.0) while for UGS (S. haematobium eggs in urine) was 17.1% (n = 210, median: 2.3 per 10 ml, range: 0.1 – 186.0) and3.8% were positive by POC circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA), indicative of a Schistosoma mansoni infectionJust under 10% of participants reported having experienced symptoms associated with MGS, namely genital or coital pain, or haemospermia. A total of 61.7% reported previous difficulties in accessing PZQ therapy, with 34.8% having received PZQ therapy before. There was a significant correlation between MGS infection and the frequency of fishing in a week (rho = - 0.25, n = 100, p = 0.01)

In conclusion, MGS is prevalent among local fishermen yet knowledge of the disease is poor. We therefore call for improved availability and accessibility to MGS diagnostics, PZQ treatment within ongoing control interventions to improve the lives and reproductive health of men, their partners and communities in this shoreline environment of Lake Malawi.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Article is part of Pre-Conference Research Topic: 16th International Symposium on Schistosomiasis
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 680 Tropical diseases (General) WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 810 Schistosomiasis WJ Urogenital System > WJ 100 General works
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology Education
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.590695
Depositing User:	Cathy Waldron
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2021 13:39
Last Modified:	01 Jun 2021 13:39
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/17879

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