title: Increasing the reach: Involving local Muslim religious teachers in a behavioral intervention to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis in Zanzibar.
abstract: In Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, Madrassa schools are influential institutions, where children and adults can learn about the interpretation of the Koran. We aimed to explore the involvement of Madrassa teachers for behavior change interventions in a randomized operational research trial designed to investigate the impact of multiple approaches to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis transmission from Zanzibar. Madrassa teachers performing in the 30 communities of the behavior change study arm were trained in new interactive and participatory teaching methods by the local behavioral team and provided with schistosomiasis-teaching tools for teaching about transmission and prevention in their Madrassa. In July 2014, in a qualitative research study, we conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with Madrassa teachers to find out how they perceived their involvement in interventions against schistosomiasis. In 2014, 5926 among the 8497 registered Madrassa students in 30 communities on Unguja and Pemba islands received health education and participated in interactive behavior change exercises about schistosomiasis. Madrassa teachers reported that they valued their inclusion in the study and the opportunity to educate their students about schistosomiasis transmission, prevention, and treatment. They also perceived personal and community benefits as a result of their training and strongly supported the inclusion of additional Madrassa teachers in future intervention activities. Madrassa teachers are influential in the Zanzibari society, and hence are important change agents within our community-level behavioral intervention. They might constitute an untapped resource that can help to expand and increase acceptance of and participation in schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical disease control activities in African Muslim communities.
authors: Zanzibar Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 236, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Celone
authors: Consultant of the Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America. Electronic address: bobbieperson@gmail.com.
authors: Bobbie
authors: B
authors: Person
authors: Public Health Laboratory - Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box 122, Chake Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Said M
authors: SM
authors: Ali
authors: Zanzibar Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 236, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Jameelat H
authors: JH
authors: Lyimo
authors: Zanzibar Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 236, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Ulfat A
authors: UA
authors: Mohammed
authors: Zanzibar Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 236, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Alippo N
authors: AN
authors: Khamis
authors: Public Health Laboratory - Ivo de Carneri, P.O. Box 122, Chake Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Yussra S
authors: YS
authors: Mohammed
authors: Zanzibar Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 236, Zanzibar Town, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors: Khalfan A
authors: KA
authors: Mohammed
authors: Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Rollinson
authors: Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Knopp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D062312:Islands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000070777:School Teachers; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D013636:Tanzania; D000070260:Teacher Training; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behavior change; Elimination; Madrassa; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis; Zanzibar