Magnitudes and predictors of onchocerciasis among Inhabitants close to ivermectin treated area along Colombo river, gomma district, jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Human onchocerciasis is parasitic diseases caused by O. volvulus and results in devastating skin and eye disease mostly in Africa. It was targeted for elimination from most parts of Africa and America targeting both the vector and the parasite. Parasitological and epidemiological studies showed that onchocerciasis is highly endemic in Southwestern parts of Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the magnitude and predictors of onchocerciasis among inhabitants close to Ivermectin treated area along Colombo River, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: The magnitudes and predictors onchocerciasis was carried out from April 23 to May 23, 2012 and by employing community based cross-sectional study design. Random sampling technique was employed to select the study subjects from each household for sociodemograpic, clinical, parasitological data and for knowledge, attitude and practice towards onchocerciasis. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0 statistical packages for different variables and the results presented using frequency tables and graphs. Results: The overall prevalence of O.volvulus in the study area was 22.5% with 26.6% and 17.6%, for males and females, respectively. The overall prevalence of onchocercial skin diseases was 29.80 % with the community microfilarial load 2.70 microfilarias per milligram (mg) of skin snips. Age, sex, educational status, occupation and duration of stay in the community had shown a significant association (P <0.05) with O.volvulus infection but only duration of stay in the village was the independent predictor for O.volvulus infection. Individuals who stayed 1-10 years in the study area were at lower risk of infection than those who stayed >60 years (OR =0.15, 95% CI, 0.035, 0.682). Moreover among 440 respondents for knowledge, attitude and practice towards onchocerciasis 88.2 % (388/440) reported that they didn’t hear about onchocerciasis by its local name before. Conclusion and Recommendations: According to WHO onchocerciasis endemicity classification, the study area could be classified as mesoendemic for onchocerciasis and the observed onchocercial skin diseases might results in social stigma and reduced productivity among infected individuals. The prevalence of onchocerciasis, onchocercial skin diseases and microfilarial loads of males were higher than female counterparts (P-vale <0.05) and the duration stay in the village was the independent predictor for O.volvulus infection. Knowledge, attitude and practice of the community towards onchocerciasis and the vector were very poor. Implementation of mass drug administration and integrated vector control strategies very crucial and further wide studies assessing the epidemiology of onchocerciasis in remaining villages adjacent to intervened area will support the elimination programs. Moreover, sustainable provision of health information can build the Knowledge, attitude and practice gaps and may reduce disease burden and further transmission.