Effects of ‘The Vicious Worm’ educational software on Taenia solium knowledge among key pork supply chain workers in Zambia

Abstract

The neglected zoonotic cestode Taenia solium is endemic in many low- and middle-income countries, including Zambia. The parasite infects humans and pigs, inflicting high socioeconomic and disease burdens in endemic areas. Health education is regarded as an important component in T . solium control and previous studies indicate that ‘The Vicious Worm’ may be an effective T . solium health education tool for Tanzanian medical and agricultural professionals and Zambian primary school students. This study aimed to assess the effects of health education using ‘The Vicious Worm’ among Zambian pork supply chain workers, because the pork supply chain greatly influences food safety and security in Zambia. Half-day educational workshops using ‘The Vicious Worm’ and subsequent follow-up sessions were organized in the Lusaka and Katete districts of Zambia in March and April 2019. Questionnaires were administered before, after, and three weeks after the use of ‘The Vicious Worm’ to assess the program’s impact on knowledge uptake and short-term retention. Focus group discussions were conducted to assess the program’s user experience and the participants’ beliefs, attitudes, and insights. In total, 47 pork supply chain workers participated: 25 from Lusaka and 22 from Katete. Overall, knowledge about T . solium was significantly higher (p<0.001) both immediately after, and three weeks after the use of ‘The Vicious Worm’ compared to baseline knowledge. Focus group discussions indicated incipient attitudinal and behavioral change, as well as a positive reception of the software; with participants describing the software as simple, educative, and useful to share knowledge. The study results indicate that workshops using ‘The Vicious Worm’ may be effective for short-term T . solium health education among key pork supply chain workers. Follow-up studies are required to assess long-term effects, transfer of knowledge and behavioral change. However, educational interventions with ‘The Vicious Worm’ could be considered for integrated T . solium control programs in sub-Saharan Africa, especially if the educational content is further simplified and clarified.

The Vicious Worm education tool improves the knowledge of community health workers on Taenia solium cysticercosis in Rwanda

“…Knowledge of the disease was greatly improved in all those trained with TVW tool, at least over the time scale which we assessed, as has been found in other studies in Tanzania [19] and Zambia [17,18] where TVW tool was used in health education. At our follow-up, the acquired knowledge was maintained, however as this was only after 4 weeks, there is a need for longer term follow-up.…”

“…The novel digital-based tool is free and can be easily downloaded to smartphones or computers for teaching or self-study sessions. TVW has been shown to increase the knowledge of cysticercosis in pork supply chain workers and primary school children in Zambia [17][18][19]-but has not previously been tested in community health workers. The aims of the current study were to assess the baseline knowledge about cysticercosis in CHWs in an endemic area of Rwanda and then to evaluate the usefulness of the Kinyarwanda version of TVW for knowledge acquisition and retention.…”

Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Knowledge, Attitude, and Reported Practices Regarding Taenia Solium Cysticercosis Taeniasis in Tanzania

“…Knowledge may encourage people to become accustomed to TSCT control strategies, like the necessity for treatment of taeniasis or improved sanitation, hygiene, and good pig-management practices towards control of faecal-oral transmission of several other diseases (Sarti et al, 1997;Ngowi et al, 2008Ngowi et al, , 2011Wohlgemut et al, 2010;Alexander et al, 2012;Mwidunda et al, 2015;Carabin et al, 2018;Vaernewyck et al, 2020). The population knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) are vital in instituting effective control strategies for various infections (WHO, 2008).…”

Effects of a Digital Health Literacy Intervention on Porcine Cysticercosis Prevalence and Associated Household Practices in Iringa District, Tanzania

“…Different intervention strategies have been applied to control T. solium , with health education suggested as an important component in any control strategy for T. solium infections [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Digital technology has been suggested as a quicker and more convenient means of delivering health education to the public to enhance the control of T. solium cysticercosis [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The technology has improved the knowledge and altitude of the awareness of the control of T. solium cysticercosis [ 4 ], though the intervention effect based on actual practices for disease management is lacking.…”