These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Role of primary health care in the control of schistosomiasis. The experience in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
    Author: Jarallah JS, al-Shammari SA, Khoja TA, al-Sheikh M.
    Journal: Trop Geogr Med; 1993; 45(6):297-300. PubMed ID: 8116063.
    Abstract:
    The control programme for schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia was started in 1975 as a central vertical programme. With the adoption of the primary health care approach a pilot scheme that integrated the control of all endemic diseases, including schistosomiasis, within the functions of primary health care centres was carried out. In Riyadh, the scheme was started in 1984 when subcentres for the control programme were established as a first step for complete integration. A training programme was extended to personnel in primary health care centres, including physicians, nurses, and health inspectors with the help of experts from World Health Organization (WHO). A survey of the population at risk in areas with high prevalence was done regularly accompanied by treatment of cases. Snail control was an important activity of the health inspectors with a three months repeat of the control procedures. The result of this programme is a significant reduction in the prevalence of both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis, from 13.2% in 1983 to 0.17% in 1989. Among the 7453 water sources surveyed in 1989, only 7 were positive for snails (0.1%). About two thirds of those who were affected were expatriates coming from areas of high prevalence of schistosomiasis. Details of the control programme and its impact on the control of the disease are presented in this paper. Between 1984 and 1986 in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health began integrating the schistosomiasis control program into the existing primary health care (PHC) system by setting up substations or subcenters in Al-Aflaj, Al-Kharj, Al-Qwai, Hotat Bani Tammin, Al-Majmea, and Al-Zufli in the Riyadh Region of the Central Province. Substation or subcenter staff conducted case detection (via collection of stool and urine samples of household members in the catchment area), snail control, and health education, and administrated chemotherapy (praziquantel) for all patients with positive stool of urine samples. Between 1983 and 1989, the prevalence of schistosomiasis fell from 13.2 to 0.17%. In 1983, it was higher among Saudis than non-Saudis (91.1% vs. 8.9%). It fell during the study period among Saudis (91.1-32.6%) and increased among non-Saudis (8.9-67.4%). The non-Saudis were from Egypt, Yemen and the Sudan, all areas of high schistosomiasis prevalence. 20-39 year olds had the highest prevalence rate (54.7%). No children under 5 years old and no school age children were infected with Schistosoma species. The integrated PHC program improved its treatment and follow-up activities as evidenced in the fall by the dropout rate (54.4%-22%). The number of positive water sources for the snails harboring Schistosoma species first increased due to stepped-up efforts to survey water sources (1.8-2.2%, 1984-1986), then fell to 0.09% (7 out of 7453 sources). A possible activity to further improve schistosomiasis efforts is screening of expatriate workers from infected countries.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]