Perceptions of common helminth infections in a rural community

Abstract

Common parasite infections cause energy depletion and growth stunting in children in endemic areas, and there is a suggestion that mental processes and school achievement are affected. The efficacy of control and treatment programmes, as with other development programmes, will depend to a great extent on the acceptance and support of people in affected areas. This study focused on the views of women who have young children in their care with the object of understanding their perceptions, and the implications these would have for intervention programmes.

Notes

Respectively of the Institute for Educational Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Congella; Department of Social Anthropology, University of Natal, Durban: and Elim Mis sion Station, Nqabeni.

The financial assistance of Janssen Pharmaceutica and the Human Sciences Research Council is gratefully acknowledged.