Burden, knowledge and perception of lymphatic filariasis in resource - poor communities in north central Nigeria.

Autor: Amaechi EC; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria., Ariyo AA; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria., Aderogba AA; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria., Nwachukwu PC; Department of Biological Sciences, Clifford University, Abia, Nigeria., Nwadike CC; Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria., Ezekiel OO; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, Kwara State Nigeria., Oyinloye FOP; Neglected Tropical Disease Division, Ministry of Health, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology [J Parasit Dis] 2024 Dec; Vol. 48 (4), pp. 823-830. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 31.
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-024-01711-0
Abstrakt: A number of vector-borne diseases are known to affect humans in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Lymphatic filariasis is one of such debilitating disease caused by a nematode, Wuchereria bancrofti. The present study assessed the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis by screening individuals with filariasis test strip and clinical examination. A sample of 765 consenting individuals were screened for filarial antigenemia using filariasis test strip and clinical examination and interviewed for knowledge and perception of filariasis using a structured questionnaire. Overall antigenemia prevalence was 8.8% and the disease prevalence varied among villages with Shonga (16.7%) having the highest and Tada (1.6%) the least infected.In relation to age group, 40-49years had the highest (49.3%) while 0-9 years did not record any infection. Among the respondents infected, a greater number (43.3%) believed that the disease was caused by stepping on charm, 45.4% of those unaffected also believed in the same cause. A greater number of the respondents (28.4%) believed that avoiding sexual intercourse with affected individuals can help prevent the disease. A majority(67.2%) of the study participant had a misconception about its preventive measure. Misconceptions on the preventive measures included sacrifice to appease the gods and avoiding sexual intercourse with affected individuals. This study showed filarial antigenemia was above the threshold of 2% in the study area with misconception on the disease transmission and therefore this area warrants strategies to prevent transmission.
Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Databáze: MEDLINE
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