Journal of
Parasitology and Vector Biology

  • Abbreviation: J. Parasitol. Vector Biol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2510
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPVB
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 202

Article in Press

Effects of Adoption of Preventive Measure of Lymphatic filariasis in Ndieze and Ezza inyimagu Communities of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebony State Nigeria (Uses of Insecticide Treated Bednet, Participation in Mectizan Drugs Distribution, and Knowledge of Causative Agent).

Louis N Ngele1*, Oliver O Njoku2, Oliver O Odikamnoro3, Christopher I Nwuzor 4, Nwele, D. E.3

  •  Received: 30 June 2016
  •  Accepted: 06 September 2016
Lymphatic filariasis(Lf) is an infection by filarial worms in lymphatic system. Its clinical effects causes serious health challenges to man. With regard to this, both Government and non-governmental organization had introduced many preventive and control measures to eliminate this disease. Hence the need to assess the impacts of these preventive and control measure in rural areas . This work was carried out in Ndieze and Ezzainyimagu of Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State; Nigeria. Immunochromatographic test cards and structured questionnaires were used. At Ezzainyimagu, 191 persons were sampled and 8 were positive (4.19% prevalence) while Ndieze 208 persons participated and 7 were positive (3.37% prevalence), but no significant difference (P0.05) was observed between the communities. In the use of insecticide treated bed net as preventive measure, the prevalence were; 4.2% for those who said always, 3.09% for those who said sometime and 2.5% for those who said not at all, but no significant difference (P0.05) among them. Participation in Mass Drug Adminstrations as a control measure has the prevalence for those who part took; once (5.09%), two times (0.0%) three times (3.75%), four times and above 5.77%, not at all (4.30%), but no significant difference was observed (P0.05). On perception of cause of lymphatic filariasis, 77.9% of the participant had no knowledge with 3.87% prevalence, 8.52% said witch craft, with 2.94% prevalence, 8.77% said mosquito bite with 5.71% prevalence, 0.75% said Ancestral curses with 0.0% prevalence, 4.01% said food and water with 0.0% prevalence but no significant difference was observe (P0.05). It is clear, that adoptions of preventive measure had no significant impact on prevalence in both communities which may be attributed to other risk factors not being checked. Hence the need for more proactive measures, mostly in the area of awareness creation and advocacy.