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dc.contributor.authorKihumuro, Raymond Bernard
dc.contributor.authorKintu, Timothy Mwanje
dc.contributor.authorAtimango, Lorna
dc.contributor.authorKanyike, Andrew Marvin
dc.contributor.authorBazira, Joel
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-14T13:43:10Z
dc.date.available2024-10-14T13:43:10Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.identifier.citationKihumuro, R. B., Kintu, T. M., Atimango, L., Kanyike, A. M., & Bazira, J. (2024). Assessing the knowledge, training and capacity of health workers in the diagnosis and management of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis in eastern Uganda. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, trae029.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.must.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/3879
dc.description.abstractBackground: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect millions of people in Africa, with Uganda bearing a significant burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) set a goal to reduce NTDs and improve access to diagnosis and management by 2030. However, NTDs have not been well integrated into primary healthcare in many countries, including Uganda, due to limited knowledge and resources among health workers. The study aimed to assess the readiness and capacity of primary healthcare centres to diagnose and manage soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 204 health workers in 20 health facilities in four districts bordering Lake Kyoga. In this study we evaluated health workers’ knowledge of symptoms, diagnosis and management of STHs and schistosomiasis as well as the availability of resources and training. Results: Our findings indicate that health workers have strong knowledge about STHs (86.76%), with lower knowledge levels regarding Schistosoma haematobium(59.72%) and Schistosoma mansoni (71.43%). Regarding resources and training, 95% of health facilities had laboratory services, but the majority lacked diagnostic equipment. Furthermore, only17% of health workers reported prior training on schistosomiasis and related topics and only25% had training on surveillance and reporting. Conclusions: While health workers in eastern Uganda demonstrated a good knowledge base for some NTDs, there were knowledge gaps and challenges in training on surveillance and reporting mechanisms. Continuously building the capacity of health workers along with investing in diagnostic infrastructure is essential for improved NTD control and ultimately reducing associated morbidity and mortality in the region.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Institute for Health Research under the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s 2022 Early Career Grants Programme.en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherTransactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygieneen_US
dc.subjectNeglected tropical diseasesen_US
dc.subjectHealth workersen_US
dc.subjectDiagnosisen_US
dc.subjectUgandaen_US
dc.titleAssessing the knowledge, training and capacity of health workers in the diagnosis and management of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis in eastern Ugandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US


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