Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Onchocerciasis Prevention and Control Among Residents of Kometa Kebele, Bench Maji Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Onchocerciasis is one of the most important public health problems over large areas of tropical African countries including Ethiopia. Involvement of individuals and communities are an important component of Onchocerciasis prevention and control methods. The objective of this study was to assess communities knowledge, attitude and practices towards prevention and control of Onchocerciasis in Kometa Kebele. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Kometa kebele in which 362 respondents who were above 18 years of age were considered in data collection.  Data were collected using a pre-tested questioner administered to sample respondents which was then analyzed using SPSS version 20. The results indicated that majority of the respondent were male (55 %) and 32.9 % of the interviewed respondents attended primary school. The average family size per household was 5.5 person. Majority of the respondents (64.4%) knew about the disease Onchocerciasis. About 36.5% of respondents mentioned Onchocerciasis can be transmitted, of which 50.8 % knew that the transmission is related to black fly biting. Majorities (90.3%) of the respondents mentioned that onchocerciasis is treatable disease with drug. In the present study 85.9 % of the study respondents perceived that, Onchocerciasis could cause blindness and death. In the present study 79.6 % of respondents did not wear protective clothes when they are working around fast flowing water. In the study area more than 82 percent of the respondents take ivermectin for Onchocerciasis prevention. About 67, 64 and 60.4% of respondents had good knowledge, attitude and practices, respectively. In conclusion, most of the respondents knew the disease Onchocerciasis, however they majorities lack awareness on the causative agent, mode of transmission and prevention of Onchocerciasis. Thus, it is important to create awareness and implement intervention activities among communities about Onchocerciasis in the area to prevent and control the disease and achieve the desired goal at national level.

Keywords; Attitude, Ethiopia, Knowledge, Kometa, Onchocerciasis, Practice.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/96-02

Publication date: December 31^st 2021