The role of health education for schistosomiasis control in heavy endemic area of Poyang Lake region, People's Republic of China

For exploring the impact of health education for schistosomiasis control in a heavy endemic area of Poyang Lake region, China, the residents residing in the heavy endemic area were divide into three kinds of target population: pupils, adult women and adult men, and then targeted health education was implemented respectively among the three kinds of population after a baseline survey. The result were compared with that in the control group. The anti-schistosomiasis knowledge level among the three kinds of population improved significantly, the correct rate of attitude to examination and chemotherapy among pupils and adult men and the correct rate of anti-schistosomiasis value concept among women were raised greatly, obedience to examination and chemotherapy among adult men increased, the rate of infested water exposure and infection rate among pupils and adult women declined remarkably. Therefore, infection with Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) can be controlled effectively among women, especially pupils and obedience to examination and chemotherapy among adults men can be improved by implementing health education.