AIM: To assess the effect of health education on the control of schistosomiasis. METHODS: A high dam-circle marsh subtype endemic village named Fanhu in Jiangxi Province near Poyang Lake was chosen for carrying out a short-term mass communication health education programme. The effect was evaluated through investigations on knowledge in schistosomiasis control, water-contact frequency and schistosome infection rate pre-and post-education. RESULTS: The results showed that such an education programme could improve the target residents’ knowledge, but the water-contact behavior and schistosome infection rate had not been significantly changed. CONCLUSION: Short-term health education could enhance the residents’ understanding of schistosomiasis control and decrease the frequency of contacting infested water and the infection rate in women. However, the reinfection rate in men remain high because of high frequency of fishing.