title: 'WE CAN'T GET WORMS FROM COW DUNG': REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF PARASITISM AMONG PASTORALIST YOUTH ATTENDING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA, TANZANIA.
abstract: Records at the Endulen Hospital in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania, reveal that soil-transmitted helminth infections and protozoa are consistently in the top ten diagnoses for Maasai pastoralists, indicating a significant public health concern. Nevertheless, Maasai pastoralist adaptations to life in close proximity to livestock and to unreliable access to water raise important questions about experiences of, and resiliency to, parasitic infections. Though these infections are particularly prevalent among youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), a focus on resiliency highlights local capacity to recover from and prevent illness. For instance, how is human parasitism perceived and experienced among communities displaying behaviours that studies have associated with transmission of diarrhoeal diseases, such as open defecation? Among these communities, how is parasitism seen to impact the health and development of children? And, what resources are available to endure or mitigate this heavy disease burden among affected communities? This study draws on formative research carried out in May 2014 in anticipation of an innovative school-based and youth-driven water, sanitation and hygiene education intervention rolled out in two boarding schools in the NCA in subsequent months. The initiative is grounded in a One Health approach to health promotion, drawing on partnerships in medicine, public health and veterinary medicine to appreciate the unique interactions between humans, animals and the environment that shape well-being among pastoralist communities. Qualitative data generated through group discussions with secondary school youth (n=60), Maasai teachers (n=6) and a women's group (n=8) in the NCA convey existing knowledge of the prevalence, prevention and treatment of human parasitism. An underlying principle of the larger initiative is to engage youth as creative agents of change in developing and sustaining locally relevant health promotion strategies. Findings highlight practical knowledge around certain 'neglected tropical diseases', namely helminths, among pastoralist communities in the NCA, in turn feeding into the development of the science fair and related interventions.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Community Health Sciences,Cumming School of Medicine,University of Calgary,Calgary,Canada.
authors.forename: Rita Isabel
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: *Department of Community Health Sciences,Cumming School of Medicine,University of Calgary,Calgary,Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatfield
authors.affiliation: †Department of Ecosystem Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Calgary,Calgary,Canada.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kutz
authors.affiliation: ‡Endulen Hospital,Ngorongoro Conservation Area,Tanzania.
authors.forename: Saningo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olemshumba
authors.affiliation: †Department of Ecosystem Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Calgary,Calgary,Canada.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Der Meer
authors.affiliation: §Department of Anatomy,Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences,Mwanza,Tanzania.
authors.forename: Mange
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manyama
authors.affiliation: *Department of Community Health Sciences,Cumming School of Medicine,University of Calgary,Calgary,Canada.
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D008372:Manure / Q000469:parasitology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012499:Sanitation; D000070777:School Teachers / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008372:Manure