Abstract:
This study was carried out through a cross-sectional design in June through August, 2010 in modern,
improved traditional and traditional irrigation schemes in Kilimanjaro and Morogororo Regions, Tanzania.
A total of 240 irrigation rice farming respondents were selected purposively at head, middle and tail of
each scheme. Interviews using structured questionnaires with closed and open-ended questions were
used to collect data. T-test was used to determine variation in different variables for infected farmers
between irrigation schemes, and for the same variables between infected and non-infected farmers within
the same irrigation schemes. Infection was least at a traditional scheme, but high at a modern scheme
both in Kilimanjaro Region. Consequently, infected farmers at Kilimanjaro modern scheme lost the
highest number of working days on treatment and care of oneself/family members, 14-30 days per season
compared to 4-13 days for infected farmers at a traditional scheme in Morogoro Region. We also found
significant difference on income accrued from rice selling between infected farmers in modern (p > 0.001)
and traditional schemes (p > 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference in net working hours per
month between infected versus non-infected farmers in modern (p>0.001), improved traditional (p = 0.006)
and traditional (p > 0.001) schemes. Since some of infected farmers in Morogoro schemes sold what
could have been their food, assets and livestock the study concluded that schistosomiasis has not only
caused illness to those infected, but it had impact on socio- economic development of those infected and
their households at large.
