None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary purpose of this randomised controlled field intervention trial was to determine the effectiveness of health education in reducing porcine cysticercosis, with an overall objective of reducing human taeniosis and cysticercosis caused by the zoonotic tapeworm, Taenia solium, which is transmitted primarily between human and pigs. The tapeworm causes serious neurological syndromes (commonly epilepsy) in human. It was hypothesized that educating smallholder pig farmers on the causes, impact, and ways to control Taenia solium infections, would reduce the incidence rate of porcine cysticercosis and improve people's knowledge and practices related to the transmission of the parasite.
Interventions
Health education intervention. A health educational package was developed with community participation. The intervention package consisted of a training manual, a video programme, two posters, a leaflet and booklet. In the first stage, local livestock/agricultural extension agents and health workers were updated on Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniosis by the principal investigator, and practised on how to educate smallholder pig farners on the problem. This training lasted for two days,
Health education intervention. A health educational package was developed with community participation. The intervention package consisted of a training manual, a video programme, two posters, a leaflet and booklet. In the first stage, local livestock/agricultural extension agents and health workers were updated on Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniosis by the principal investigator, and practised on how to educate smallholder pig farners on the problem. This training lasted for two days, approximately two hours each day. In the second stage, a trained extension agent addressed smallholder pig farmers on Taenia solium using the training manual and posters in a special seminar. Thereafter, seminar participants watched a 14-minute video on Taenia solium. The video was produced locally and acted by the local people. Finally, each participant was given a booklet and a leaflet to take home. Pig farmers' training was a one-day intervention that lasted for approximately two hours. The health education package informed smallholder pig farmers on the mode of transmission, impact, prevention and control of Taenia solium, a zoonotic parasite that was highly prevalent in Mbulu district, northern Tanzania. Pig farmers' education was administered at village level. Assessment of specific knowledge, practices and incidence of porcine cysticercosis was done before the intervention and one to two times after the intervention for a median of 4 months (range: 2-9 months).
Sponsors
Helena A. Ngowi
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(1) Pig-keeping villages not extensively studied for cysticercosis, and independent from other villages; (2) A random sample of smallholder pig-keepng households in each study village; (3) Willingness of the household head to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
(1) Villages not keeping pigs; (2) Villages overly studied for porcine cysticercosis previously, including the pilot study village; (3) School children.
Outcome results
None listed