School absenteeism due to dracunculosis in Benin
Chippaux, J.P.; Larsson, R.W.
Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique 84(5 Pt 5): 775-782
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9085 PMID: 1840242 Document Number: 369286
A study was carried out over a period of 4 years in 5 villages in the Zou region of Benin in order to evaluate the impact of dracunculosis on school attendance. A strong correlation was established between the presence of infection and the number of days of absence from school. 17.7% of schoolchildren suffered from dracunculosis annually. The duration of disease was 104 days on average and required bed rest for 32 days. A nation-wide survey in 1987-1988 of 2840 primary schools at the end of the major worm emergence season revealed a national incidence of 1.6% with strong regional variations. On the day of the survey 13.92% of the children were absent, and absenteeism was related to dracunculosis in 40% of the cases. Absenteeism became patent at an incidence of dracunculosis of > 1%. Such studies may be used as an epidemiological marker.