03063nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653004100058653002900099653002400128653001300152653001400165653001400179100001700193700001400210700001300224700001300237700001300250700001400263700001700277700001500294700001600309245015400325856015300479300000900632490000600641520208800647022001402735       2023                            d  bElsevier BV10aFemale genital schistosomiasis (FGS)10aHealthcare professionals10aProfessional nurses10aMidwives10aKnowledge10aTreatment1 aSommerfelt I1 aNdhlovu P1 aTaylor M1 aNaidoo S1 aPillay P1 aHaaland H1 aGundersen SG1 aFurumele T1 aKjetland EF00aHealth professionals’ knowledge about female genital schistosomiasis. A qualitative investigation in a schistosomiasis endemic area in South Africa  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000768/pdfft?md5=c8682ce3095f1eaa8094e47ee0f57414&pid=1-s2.0-S2667321523000768-main.pdf  a1-110 v33 a<p>Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected tropical disease that affects the lives of millions of women living in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to identify South African healthcare professionals' perceptions and experiences of Female Genital schistosomiasis. This&nbsp;qualitative study&nbsp;took place in Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in one&nbsp;Community&nbsp;Health Centre and two Primary Health Care clinics. The purpose was to explore local healthcare professionals' views and knowledge on FGS in an area endemic for&nbsp;<em>Schistosoma haematobium</em>, referred to as bilharzia, or isichenene in isiZulu. The empirical findings collected through interviews and observations are discussed in relation to the well-established research on FGS. This project also took cognizance of the United Nations (UN) sustainability development goals (SDGs) with a focus on gender and sanitation, as well as control programmes to prevent schistosomiasis. The study showed that there was a multi-faceted gap in knowledge between local&nbsp;midwives&nbsp;and professional nurses’ work-related knowledge and the medical research team. Among the main causes are skewed power relations, whereby the women affected by FGS often have low socioeconomic status in society while the higher&nbsp;power structures&nbsp;do not prioritize FGS. This leads to health professionals being in a “middle position” where they are responsible for community health but are governed by their training and the guidelines of the institution in which they are a part. Furthermore, the study showed the importance of&nbsp;culture&nbsp;since nurses and midwives consult with patients, as they are part of a framework where their role is constrained due to&nbsp;governmental policies, protocols for patient care and the local culture. To provide adequate health services for FGS patients, this study indicates that policy, female patient management protocols, curricula, post graduate training, clinical practice and schistosomiasis prevention programs should include FGS.</p>
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