Exploring healthcare professionals’ perspectives on neglected tropical diseases in Eastern Uganda a qualitative study with a focus on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths

Abstract

Background: Neglected tropical diseases

(NTDs),

including

soil-transmitted

helminths

(STHs)

and

schistosomia

sis,

continue

to

impose

a

heavy

burden,

especially

in

sub-Saharan

Africa

and

Uganda,

despite

being

preventable.

Integration

of

NTD

management

into

primary

healthcare

has

been

inadequate.

While

researchers

have

explored

community

perspectives,

there

is

a

notable

gap

in

understanding

the

viewpoints

of

healthcare

workers

(HCW),

which

is

crucial

for

effective

NTD

control

strategies.

This

study

explores

HCW’

perspectives

in

Eastern

Uganda,

highlighting

challenges

in

schistosomiasis

and

STH

prevention

and

management.

Methods:

In

this

qualitative

descriptive

study,

we

conducted

semistructured

interviews

with

10

key

informants

who

were

HCW

in

Eastern

Uganda

with

experience

in

managing

STHs

and

schistosomiasis.

Participants

were

selected

purposively

and

interviewed

through

Zoom

guided

by

a

comprehensive

interview

guide.

The

data

were

transcribed,

coded

and

analyzed

thematically.

Results:

We

identified

five

key

themes

regarding

the

impact

and

management

of

NTDs:

(i)

the

burden

of

NTDs,

where

schistosomiasis

and

STHs

were

notably

prevalent

among

children

and

communities

adjacent

to

water

bodies;

(ii)

transmission

of

NTDs,

emphasizing

water

bodies

and

poor

sanitation

as

primary

routes

of

disease

spread;

(iii)

clinical

manifestations

of

NTDs,

detailing

the

symptomatic

presentations

that

complicate

diagnosis

and

management;

(iv)

challenges

in

managing

and

diagnosing

NTDs,

highlighting

the

shortages

of

essential

medications

and

diagnostic

tools,

along

with

the

under-prioritization

of

NTDs

within

healthcare

systems;

and

(v)

fatalities

and

complications

arising

from

NTDs,

reporting

on

the

severe

outcomes

and

under-reporting

of

deaths

associated

with

NTDs

due

to

misdiagnosis,

delayed

treatment

and

traditional

healing

preferences.

Conclusion:

The

interviewed

Ugandan

HCW

demonstrated

sufficient

knowledge

of

schistosomiasis

and

STHs,

but

faced

challenges

due

to

inadequate

diagnostic

tools

and

medication

shortages.

The

study

underscores

the

need

for

NTD

prioritization

with

direct

funding

and

government

involvement,

alongside

strategies

that

integrate

continuous

medical

training,

effective

community

outreach

and

an

enhanced

healthcare

system

response

to

reduce

the

burden

of

NTDs.