COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS ON NATIONAL SCHOOL-BASED DE-WORMING PROGRAMME

To determine the community level of knowledge, attitude and perception of soil transmitted helminthes and the national school-based de-worming programme in selected villages of Busia County in Kenya.

A cross-sectional survey.

Busia and Bunyala districts in Busia County.

A total of 384 participants were studied.

Socio-demographic characteristics, then knowledge, causes and effects of Soil Transmitted Infections on health and education, prevention strategies, knowledge of national school-based de-worming programs, implementing strategies of the programme, benefits of the programme, community satisfaction and health seeking behaviour.

Eating the uncooked food as a cause for soil transmitted infections constituted 27.16% (63) followed by 16.38% (38) notusing latrines, 15.95% (37) eating left over foods, 12.93% (30) eating cold food, 10.78% (25) eating not well cooked pork, 9.48% (22) eating contaminated soil, and 7.33% (17) changing of diet. One head teacher interviewed stated that "One can be able to notice if his/her child has worm infection if the child eats without getting satisfied, eating all the time and yet his belly is big."Community Health Extension Worker in the FGD stated that: "During flood seasons most of the areas in Budalangi become flooded and all latrines are filled with water and the excreta start overflowing. Most of the residents don't have shoes especially the children and therefore they are prone to the worm infection."99.57% of the parents were aware of the national school based de-worming programme of which (92%) learnt about the programme after their children were de-wormed in their various schools. Seventy five percent (174) were satisfied about the programme; 65.1% (151) and 10.3% indicated that the programme improves the children's health and student's school performance respectively.

Most of the parents do not have adequate knowledge on worms, their causes, and signs and symptoms of the intestinal worms. Low educational levels and poverty levels also contribute to the lack of awareness on intestinal worms and putting the prevention measures across the board. The study also found out that the community perception towards the de-worming programme was good because the de-worming programme improved the children's health and performance in school.