[Investigation on knowledge, attitude, and practice of schistosomiasis prevention and control and infection status in Armed Police Forces stationed along Yangtze River].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the status of knowledge, attitude, and practice of schistosomiasis prevention and control and infection status in Armed Police Forces stationed along the Yangtze River, so as to provide the reference for formulating the schistosomiasis prevention and control measures in Armed Police Forces.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Armed Police Forces along the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, and the investigation content included social demographic data, schistosomiasis prevention knowledge, attitude and behavior. All the subjects were examined for Schistosoma japonicum infection.

RESULTS

Totally 376 soldiers were investigated in 2 sites. The total passing rate of schistosomiasis knowledge was 72.87%. The passing rate among different age groups had no significant difference ( χ2 =0.26, P > 0.05). The passing rate of soldiers from endemic areas was significantly higher than that of the soldiers from non-endemic areas ( χ2 =4.71, P < 0.05). The passing rate of officers was significantly higher than that of the soldiers (χ2 = 4.21, P < 0.05). The passing rate of soldiers with the education levels of junior school, high school, college, undergraduate and above increased gradually, with a significant difference (χ2 =8.16, P < 0.05). The soldiers with positive attitude accounted for 93.88%. Among the water contact behaviors, training accounted for 17.55% and participating in the task (such as flood fighting and water work) accounted for 86.44%. When launching, the rate of taking protective measures was 52.93%. The rate of taking protective measures in the knowledge passing group was much higher than that in the knowledge failed group (χ2 =10.55, P < 0.05). The stool was harmlessly treated in the two camps. Among 376 soldiers, the positive rate of blood examinations was 0.53%, but the stool examinations were all negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall level of knowledge and correct behavior of schistosomiasis prevention in the Armed Police Forces along the Yangtze River still should be improved. The better health education and behavior intervention are crucial to schistosomiasis prevention in the army.