Prevalence and perception of schistosomiasis in a periurban school of Bamako in Mali

The prevalence of urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis, the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the disease among both the children and their parents were investigated in Djikoroni para, a Suburban area of Bamako. The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni were respectively 69.8% and 8.7%. Compared with the girls, the boys were significantly more infected by S. haematobium (p = 5.10(-3)), but no difference between the sexes was observed for S. mansoni (p = 0.36). Interviews indicated that 88% of children and 91% of adults considered micro-haematuria as a pathology, but did not know anything about intestinal schistosomiasis. The low sensitivity of micro-haematuria (56.8%) and of the criterion "abdominal pains" (66.7%) indicated that they couldn't be relevant diagnosis signs. The symptoms and mode of transmission were generally well understood for S. haematobium but not for S. mansoni. The later parasite, its intermediate host and their interactions were unknown. The main man water contacts are bathing and playing in the Woyowayanko and in the Niger river. Inadequate perception of schistosomiasis contributes to maintain schistosomiasis at a high level of prevalence in Djikoroni.