Perceptions and socio-economic burden of Lymphatic filariasis in Fakai local government area of Kebbi state, Nigeria
Keywords:
knowledge, awareness, LF, Fakai LGAAbstract
Background: Nigeria is the second most endemic country in the world for Lymphatic filariasis, after India. Control efforts have been ongoing since the year 2010 but is often ha1mpered by poor community awareness and compliance to Mass Drug Administration.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions and socio-economic burden of Lymphatic filariasis in Fakai LGA of Kebbi State, Nigeria, in order to develop disease control and intervention strategies.
Methods: A standardized questionnaire was adapted and a scale of measurement was developed. The methodology was quantitative and the study design was cross-sectional. A sample of 423 respondents was selected which include affected and unaffected members of the communities.
Findings: Knowledge about the cause, mode of transmission and preventive measure was very poor. Majority, comprising 68.9% of affected and 39.3% unaffected respondents attributed the cause to witchcraft. None believed it is caused by mosquito bite. On the other hand, they demonstrated relatively high awareness of the socio-economic implications of the disease as majority (56.0%) believed the disease decreases income of sufferers.
Conclusions: They are at high risk of LF. There is need for knowledge-based awareness for effective management of the disease.
References
Babu B, Swain B, Rath K. Impact of Chronic Lymphatic filariasis on quantity and quality of productive work among weavers in ann endemic village from India. Trop Med Int. Health. 2006;5:712-717.
Upadhyayula S, Mutheneni S, Kadiri MR, Kumaraswamy S, Nagalla B. A Cohort Study of Lymphatic filariasis on socio economic conditions in Andhra Pradesh, India. Plos One. 2012;7(3):e33779.
WHO. Forms of Lymphatic filariasis and diagnosis, 2011. Assessed on 30/09/18 from http://www.who.int/lymphaticfilariasis/epidemiologyformslen/index.html
WHO. Lymphatic filariasis, 2022. Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lymphatic-filariasis accessed on 07/08/23
Hussaini A, Celement I, Hussaini Rath, Collins I, Cedric O, Ezekiel S. The burden of Bancroft filariasis in Nigeria: a review Ethiop. J. Health Sci. 2020;30(2):301-310. DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v30i2.18
Wynd S, Durheim DN, Carron J, Selve B, Chaine JP, Leggat PA, et al. socio-cultural insights and lymhatic filariasis control: Lessons from the Pacific Filarial Journal. 2007;6(3):27-36.
Ramaiah KD, Ramu K, Das PK, Kumar KN, Pani SP. Direct and Indirect Costs of the Acute Form of Lymphatic filariasis to households in Rural Areas of Tamil Nadu, South India. Journal of Tropical Medicine and International Health. 1998;3(92):108-115.
Streit T, Latantant JG. Eliminating Lymphatic filariasis: a view from the field Ann N.Y Acad Sci 2005, 1136: 53-63 Jaiyeola, T.M Udo E.E, Adebambo, A.B (2022) knowledge, attitude and practice towards lymphatic filariasis among inhabitants of an endemic Towon in Oyo state, Nigeria, 2008. Researchable https//www.researchgate.net
Ministry of Health Uganda. Knowledge, attitude and practices of Lymphatic filariasis chronic manifestation in Uganda KAP- Uganda –final-report (1) pdf. Sightsavers research center, 2017. https://researchsightsavers.org
Amaechi EC, Ohaeri CC, Ukpai OM, et al. Lymphatic filariasis: Knowledge, attitude and practices among inhabitants of an irrigation project community, North central, Nigeria Asian pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. https://www.infontd.org> resource
Nazeh, M Al-Abd, Zurainee MN, Mustafa Kassim. Lyphatic filariasis in peninsular Malaysia; a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of residents parasites and vectors BMC, 2014. parasitisandrectors.biomedcentral.com
Yakubu S. Prevalence, Clinical epidemiology and assessment of the knowledge, perception and pratices of hymphatic filariasis amongst selected communities in kotangora, Niger State. M.SC dissertation, Federal university of Technology, Minna, 2021.
Rath K, Nath N, Shaloumg M, Swain BK, Mishra S, Babu BV. Knowledge and perceptions about lymphatic filariasis: a study during the programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in an urban community of Orissa, India. Trop Biomed 2006 : 2392) : 156-61. Contrary to this, Azzuwut et at., (2013) reported in a study they carried out in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria, Majority of their respondents were aware that mosquito is the vector of LF, 2006.
Owudu EA, Ochoga JO. Clinical Epidemiology of Lymphatic filariasis and community practices and perception among the Ado people of Benue State, Nigeria. African Journal of Infections Diseases. 2011;5(2):47-53.
Ramaiah KD, Das PK, Micheal E, Guyatt H. The Economic Burden of Lymphatic filariasis in India. Parasitology Today. 2000;16(6):251-253.
Azzuwut MP, Sambo MN, Hadejia IS. Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices related to the treatment and prevention of LF among the adult residents of Bokkos LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria. Jos Journal of Medicine. 2013;6(3):19.
