Monitoring and evaluating schistosomiasis control within a primary health care programme

Approaches for monitoring and evaluation of schistosomiasis control within primary health care (PHC) programmes are discussed on the basis of experiences in rural Tanzania. Feedback is regarded as an essential element of evaluation. It ensures community participation and strengthens the PHC approach. Monitoring, evaluation and feedback depend on the type of control strategy chosen. The strategy in turn is governed by the epidemiological factors and the politico-socioeconomic situation of the setting where schistosomiasis control is envisaged. Simple methods for monitoring control activities at community level exist and are being tested on a long-term basis. They relate to epidemiologically relevant parameters, such as prevalence, incidence and morbidity, and they can be handled by members of a community, particularly village health workers and/or staff of a dispensary. Most of the data collected by the community or its segments allow immediate feedback and form the basis for new or adopted strategies.