A descriptive qualitative case study of the experiences, perceptions and attitudes of pregnant women on Unguja island, Zanzibar, towards antischistosomal treatment

•Women were enthusiastic about keeping healthy during pregnancy.•Women strongly valued high quality antenatal care and were encouraged to attend clinics by their families and community members.•Women demonstrated poor retention of knowledge about schistosomiasis from school.•The majority of women interviewed had missed mass drug administration rounds of praziquantel due to pregnancy or concerns about side effects.•Women were unanimously agreeable to taking praziquantel during pregnancy if advised to do so by a healthcare professional.