Objective: To understand the relationship of schistosome infection with environment and the behavioral characteristics of residents in Jingzhou area.
Methods: The schistosomiasis patients (positive in stool examinations) were investigated with the questionnaire at home. The content of questionnaire included the hygienic and environmental situation, the behavioral characteristics of the residents, and the treatment of schistosomiasis patients.
Results: A total of 1 552 schistosomiasis patients were investigated, and the proportion of the patients aged from 45 to 60 years was 81.0% and the proportion of the patients aged more than 65 years was 9.7%. In Gong'an County and Jianli County, in daily life, the water contact included ditch water (0.7%), running water (43.0%), and well water (56.3%). In product activities, the water contact included farming (48.3%), fishing, and fighting flood. The peak period of water contact was from May to July. Totally 91.24% of the residents knew whether there were Oncomelania snails in their fields, and the snails could be detected in 18.6% of their fields or 10 meters around. There were 8.14% of schistosomiasis patients did not take the medicine last year, and 1 007 persons (64.88%) who took the medicine last year were re-infected in next year.
Conclusions: Productive activities are the main water contact ways in the 2 counties researched. It is the key measures to change the environment and the pattern of agricultural production in rural areas for schistosomiasis control.