Implementation of health education with mass drug administration is advised so as to induce better decision among various populations through uptake of the health messages. However, this disease remains a problem in Luangwa despite implementation of health education. The study was thus conducted to assess the factors influencing the adoption of health education for schistosomiasis control in Luangwa district of Zambia. It was specifically aimed at assessing the scope of health education and strategies being employed in delivery of health education for schistosomiasis in Luangwa. Additionally, it explored the barriers and facilitators in delivering health education for schistosomiasis in Luangwa and finally revealed perceptions of key stakeholders towards health education messages for schistosomiasis in Luangwa. This case study qualitatively explored various factors influencing adoption of health education in Luangwa district. Three Key Informant Interviews, six In-depth Interviews and eight Focus Group Discussions were performed with implementers, health educators and recipients of the health education respectively. The recipients of the health education included school going children, members of the community and mothers who attended under-five clinic sessions. The Factors that were seen to facilitate acceptability of health education include adaptability of health education, community engagement, use of locally acceptable venues to deliver health education, use of teaching aids and learning from others. On the other hand, factors that inhibited acceptability of health education were poor road network, unreached areas, beliefs and myths surrounding bilharzia, the fishing cultural orientation, inadequate income and human resources, busy work schedules and poor access to clean water. The framework used in the study was found to reveal critical aspects of Health education adoption in Luangwa district. However, there still exists a need to conduct further research as well as focus on improving the structural characteristics as are illustrated in this study.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

The academic research was funded to Rabecca Chinoya, a student at the time by WHO-TDR.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The proposal of this study was submitted to the University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee and Nation Health Research Authority. Both institutions are situated in Lusaka, Zambia and both approved conduct of this research. Due to the study being health related and involving pupils in various schools, approval was also sought and obtained from Provincial Health Office in Lusaka, Provincial Education Office in Lusaka, District Health Office in Luangwa and District Education Board in Luangwa.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes

All data produced in the present study but not available in the manuscript are available upon request to the authors, however, to the best of our knowledge, all data produced in the present work are contained in the manuscript.