The Story of Shukuru - a film to enhance knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding schistosomiasis and related elimination interventions in Pemba, Tanzania.

An educational schistosomiasis film in Pemba, Tanzania increased schoolchildren and adults’ odds of correct knowledge by 39% (OR 1.39) and positive attitudes by 77% (OR 1.77) after viewing.

• Why it matters: WHO-recommended schistosomiasis control includes treatment, snail control, and behavior change, but culturally tailored education is uncommon, leaving a gap in locally relevant interventions.
• What they did: A locally produced film was developed from community input (surveyed Nov 2023–Feb 2024) and then evaluated in a pretest-posttest study in ten administrative areas in July 2024 using binomial generalized linear mixed-effects models.
• The result: After viewing, participants reported shifts in water-contact and protection intentions: daily natural water use was linked to low protective clothing use, while avoidance of water bodies and likelihood of protective clothing increased.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.