In many rural parts of Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa, a silent but devastating condition continues to wreak havoc on the lives of countless women and girls. Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a parasitic disease that remains largely ignored, yet it is deeply linked to poverty, lack of clean water, and gender-based health disparities. Despite its wide prevalence, especially near freshwater lakes and rivers, awareness remains dangerously low—even among healthcare providers.
This disease not only causes physical discomfort and long-term reproductive damage but also leads to social stigma, infertility, and increased vulnerability to HIV. If left unaddressed, FGS could continue destroying the health and dignity of generations of women in silence.
What Is Female Genital Schistosomiasis?
Female genital schistosomiasis is a chronic manifestation of urogenital schistosomiasis, caused by the parasitic worm Schistosoma haematobium. The parasite enters the body when people come into contact with freshwater sources contaminated by larvae—typically through bathing, washing clothes, or even collecting water.
Once inside, the worms settle in the blood vessels and release eggs, some of which get trapped in body tissues—including the vagina, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. Over time, these trapped eggs cause chronic inflammation, ulcers, and lesions in the genital tract.
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A Widespread but Underdiagnosed Threat in Kenya
According to the World Health Organization, over 56 million women and girls in Africa are at risk of female genital schistosomiasis. In Kenya, regions like Makueni, Kisumu, Busia, Tana River, and parts of the Coast are particularly affected due to their proximity to lakes, rivers, and irrigation schemes.
Despite its widespread impact, FGS is often misdiagnosed or completely ignored. In fact, many health facilities in rural Kenya lack the tools, training, and protocols needed to identify or treat this disease. The symptoms—vaginal itching, pain during sex, bleeding, and discharge—are frequently misattributed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or cervical cancer.
How Female Genital Schistosomiasis Destroys Lives
1. Reproductive Health Damage
FGS leads to chronic inflammation, lesions, and fibrosis in the reproductive organs. This often results in:
- Infertility
- Ectopic pregnancies
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
2. Increased Risk of HIV
Multiple studies have shown that women with FGS are up to three times more likely to contract HIV. The lesions and inflammation caused by the disease offer an easy entry point for the virus.
3. Social and Emotional Impact
In rural communities, women with chronic genital symptoms may be stigmatized, shunned, or even abandoned by partners. Many silently suffer due to shame, lack of access to female-friendly healthcare, or fear of misdiagnosis.
Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment
A major challenge in managing female genital schistosomiasis is the lack of awareness—even among medical personnel. Most diagnostic protocols focus on urine or stool samples, which may miss genital involvement altogether. A proper diagnosis often requires pelvic exams, colposcopy, or biopsies, which are unavailable in most primary health centers in Kenya.
Additionally, symptoms often overlap with other diseases. As a result, women are given antibiotics for STIs or antifungal treatments, while the real cause remains untreated.
Treatment Options
The good news is that FGS can be treated—especially in its early stages. The drug praziquantel, which is effective against all forms of schistosomiasis, is the mainstay of treatment. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns in Kenya, often run by the Ministry of Health and partners like WHO and UNICEF, have made progress in distributing praziquantel to school-age children.
However, adult women are often left out of these programs. There is an urgent need to include reproductive-age women in national treatment strategies.
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Urgent Need for Policy and Community Action
Policy-Level Changes Needed
- Incorporate FGS awareness and screening in sexual and reproductive health programs.
- Train community health volunteers (CHVs) and rural nurses on how to detect and manage the condition.
- Include women of all ages in MDA campaigns.
Improve Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
The root cause of schistosomiasis lies in exposure to infected water. Investing in clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure is key to eradicating this disease.
Community Education
Women and girls need to understand the risks associated with swimming or washing in contaminated water bodies. Safe hygiene practices and awareness campaigns can go a long way in preventing new infections.
A Call to Action
Female genital schistosomiasis is more than a medical condition—it is a human rights issue affecting millions of girls and women across Kenya and Africa. It steals their fertility, compromises their sexual health, exposes them to HIV, and silences them in shame.
It’s time for policymakers, healthcare workers, NGOs, and communities to break that silence.
By prioritizing awareness, early detection, and inclusion in national health programs, Kenya can lead the way in fighting female genital schistosomiasis and restoring dignity and health to its women.
Confronting Female Genital Schistosomiasis in Kenya
Female genital schistosomiasis continues to silently destroy women’s lives in Kenya and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It thrives in poverty-stricken, water-insecure areas and hides under the radar due to stigma and misdiagnosis. But it does not have to be this way. With proper policy action, community education, and access to treatment, FGS can be detected early and managed effectively.
Let us not allow another generation of women to suffer in silence. It’s time to bring female genital schistosomiasis to the center of Kenya’s health priorities—and end the neglect once and for all.
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