Knowledge, attitudes and practices among rural communities in Zimbabwe in relation to Phytolacca dodecandra--a plant molluscicide

Questionnaires about schistosomiasis and Phytolacca dodecandra, a plant molluscicide with potential to control schistosomiasis transmitting snails, were administered to 271 women and 168 men in two communal areas where the plant grows naturally, and in a further two areas where no records of the plant exist. 78.9% of the respondents thought that schistosomiasis was a dangerous disease with blood in urine being the most recognised symptom. 11.8% said that snails were involved in the transmission of the disease, although their role in sustaining the life cycle of the schistosome parasite was not understood. Knowledge about P. dodecandra was restricted to people resident in areas where the plant grows naturally and to immigrants from areas where it is known to grow. The most common use of the plant was as a floor polish. Knowledge of uses of the plant were found to be related to the sex of the respondents. Seventy-seven percent of the people interviewed were prepared to cultivate the plant for self-help schistosomiasis control programmes. Of the 23% that were not willing to cultivate P. dodecandra, 47.7% cited scarcity of land as the main obstacle. Other reasons were lack of knowledge about the plant (21%), lack of confidence in the success of such self-help programmes (11.2%) and indifference due to old age (20%).