Urinary Schistosomiasis: Factors Associated with Modern Care Research by the Community of Lanta in Benin in 2023

Introduction: Urinary bilharziasis is the second most widespread parasitic disease in the world after malaria, is one of the seven (07) neglected tropical diseases which occurs in 78 countries around the world including Benin, a country in West Africa. In fact, the bilharziasis called also by its scientific name shistosomiasis is an infectious disease concentrated in deprived areas and affecting communities living along waterways such as that of Lanta located in the southern part of the Republic of Benin. The objective of our study was to study the factors associated with the modern therapy research on urinary bilharziasis by the Lanta community from Benin in 2023. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional and analytical study which took place from July 9 to 31, 2023 including 734 subjects aged at least 18 years old and all residing in the seven (07) villages of the Lanta district. A pre-tested and validated questionnaire served as a data collection tool. Data analysis has been done with R 3.4.1 software. The odds ratio was used as a measure of association. The confidence threshold was set at 5%. In order to obtain a predictive model of the modern therapy research for the exposed people to the urinary bilharzia, a multiple logistic regression using the likelihood ratio was carried out in the community of Lanta. Results: The average age of the subjects investigated was 15.93 ± 39.26 years. Of the 734 subjects, 73.57% cannot read or write. The sex ratio (Female/Male) was 0.87. The proportion of subjects with adequate knowledge of urinary bilharziasis was 25.89% with 95% CI = [22.85; 29.17%]. The prevalence of urinary bilharziasis was 30.11% with 95% CI = [26.90; 33.52]. But only 54.29% have been consulted in a health service and received drug treatment. The main factors which sufficiently predicted the non-use of modern therapy in cases of urinary bilharziasis were the residence of the subject, a low household income (less than 52,000 CFA francs per month), the unavailability of the health agent (agent always busy) and the non-knowledge of a person who has suffered from urinary bilharziasis. Conclusion: Adults in the Lanta community have poor knowledge about urinary bilharziasis. Their prevention attitudes are unfavorable with little recourse to a health facility in Lanta to seek modern therapy in the event of the appearance of urinary bilharziasis. Predictors of this behavior are village of residence, low purchasing power, unavailability of health personnel and not knowing anyone affected by the disease. Those responsible for the health system in Benin should direct targeted actions towards this Lanta community to control this phenomenon, in order to get a social and behavioral change.