Sleeping sickness and tsetse awareness: a sociological study among the Tambo and Lambya of the northern Luangwa Valley, Zambia
Kaona, F.A.; Masaninga, F.; Rickman, L.R.; Mukunyandela, M.
Central African Journal of Medicine 37(9): 298-301
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-9176 PMID: 1807810 Document Number: 326696
In May 1988, tropical disease researchers interviewed 1940 Tambo and Lambya men and women living in 2 chiefs' areas (Katyetye and Mweniwisi) of the Luangwa Valley of Isoka District in the Northern Province of Zambia to determine their knowledge of trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and tsetse flies. 98.4% of the respondents who had lived in the area for at least one month knew that tsetse fly bites transmitted trypanosomiasis. 94.2% of those who lived in the area for 1 month also knew this. Only people who lived in the area for 1 month believed that witchcraft and bad water transmitted sleeping sickness (0.9% and 0.1% respectively). Approximately 73% reported tsetse flies to be uncommon in their villages. Just 2% believed trypanosomiasis to be a leading disease because its treatment often requires a long hospitalization. Most people (74%) thought malaria to be the most serious disease, because it occurs frequently and kills many people. Tsetse flies become ubiquitous during the rainy season. Further the Tropical Disease Research Centre in Ndola, Zambia has found extremely high tsetse densities along access roads and paths connecting villages. The researchers planned to use these results in developing a parasite control project in the area. Community health workers trained under the Primary Health Care project could conduct health education sessions about sleeping sickness in the area to increase awareness of the seriousness of the disease.