Feasibility of school-based health intervention for compliance of mass
drug administration for soil transmitted helminthiasis in Bangladesh
Abstract
Background: Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Programs has been
conducting bi-annually at school level to eliminate Soil
Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) from Bangladesh since 2008. Because of
very low MDA coverage in Bangladesh, this study explored the perceptions
of stakeholders about MDA program implementation, knowledge of students
regarding helminthiasis and MDA including its potential barriers.
Methods: 258 students of grade IV of three public schools from
Khulna district, Bangladesh were randomly selected. This study follows
mixed-method approach while Qualitative methods were used to evaluate
the perception, barriers and favourable environment based on IDIs and
FGDs with key stakeholders and quantitative method used to assess the
students’ response to School-Based Health Education (SBHE) intervention
and knowledge of STH and MDA.
Results: In result, positive understanding and attitude towards
MDA program are seen within community as well as have basic knowledge on
STH. Rumour of drugs potential side effects and insufficiently trained
manpower are found as key barriers. After SBHE intervention among urban
and rural students’ knowledge improved by 64.31% and 13.04%
respectively including MDA coverage has increased by 40.08% and 8.69%
respectively as well.
Conclusions: SBHE intervention improves knowledge, but to make
that knowledge effective and sustainable, teachers need to get proper
trainings on regular basis. Improved knowledge of the community can
increase MDA coverage if we are able to remove the program obstacle like
rumours of side effect of the medicine and constraints of skilled human
resources.