Abstract:
Aims: To assess schistosomiasis occurence and identify risk factors influencing its transmission in
different surface irrigation schemes in Morogoro and Kilimanjaro Regions of Tanzania.
Study Design: Cross-sectional research design was used and Schistosomiasis recorded cases for
ten years (January 2002 to December 2011) were collected from health facilities located nearby the
irrigation schemes.
Place and Duration of Study: Mkindo, Chabi and Mwega (Morogoro Region) and Kikafu Chini,
Lower Moshi and Njoro (Kilimanjaro Region) between October and December, 2011.
Methodology: Out of 378 respondents selected; 240 in the questionnaire survey, 96 in the Focus
Group Discussions and 42 in the Key informant interviews. In each scheme 40 farmers practicing
irrigation rice farming were interviewed. Binary logistic regression was used to test association between schistosomiasis infection and a number of predictors such as: age, sex, education,
wearing gumboots during irrigation activities, washing clothes and household utensils and cleaning
farming tools in canals. Data on activities involving water contacts, water management practices
and people’s behaviour were collected through questionnaires and observations. Moreover, tables
and figure were used to describe the data.
Results: There was no significant statistical association between predictors and disease
occurrence in both Regions (P>0.05). The findings further show that lack of toilets in the schemes
and excessive vegetation growth in irrigation and drainage canals have lead to prominence of
schistosomiasis infection. Education in both Morogoro and Kilimanjaro schemes highly contribute
to occurrence of the disease (Walds 2.057 and 1.164 respectively).
Conclusion: Although the level of schistosomiasis occurance is slightly reducing in the study areas
the government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should have a plan
of schistosomiasis control to communities engaged in irrigation farming and those who live close to
irrigation schemes. This should be done through providing praziquantel tablets to communities at
least once in a year.
