Effect of a school-based health education and treatment intervention on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and prevalence of schistosomiasis among school-aged children and adolescents in Osun state, Nigeria

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that disproportionately affects underprivileged populations, especially school-aged children and adolescents who are frequently exposed to infested water sources. Effective control requires combining treatment with preventive strategies such as health education. This quasi-experimental study assessed the effect of context-specific health education and praziquantel treatment on knowledge, attitude, and risky practices (KAP) regarding schistosomiasis among primary school children in riverine communities of Osun State, Nigeria. Using multistage sampling, 201 and 203 pupils were recruited into intervention and control groups, respectively. A pre-tested facilitated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data at baseline and post-intervention. The study was conducted from March to October 2024 in three phases: pre-intervention to identify prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni and KAP towards Schistosomiasis, Intervention (health education sessions and treatment of positive cases), and post-intervention. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25, using Chi-square to test associations, with significance set at p < 0.05. The prevalence of schistosomiasis significantly declined in the intervention group, from 16.9% at baseline to 3.6% post-intervention, while no reduction was observed in the control group (15.8% at both baseline and post-intervention). Risky practices slightly decreased in the intervention group (88.1% to 87.0%, p > 0.05), whereas they increased in the control group (82.3% to 83.9%). Knowledge improved markedly from 27.9% to 99.5%, and favorable attitudes rose from 68.2% to 80.2% in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Context-specific health education, combined with treatment of positive cases, significantly reduced schistosomiasis prevalence and improved knowledge and attitudes among school-aged children and adolescents. This approach is vital for effective schistosomiasis control in endemic communities.