Podoconiosis Prevalence and Its Associated Factors in Soddo Zuria District, Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis of the lower legs) have been linked with barefoot exposure to red clay soils of volcanic origin. In endemic areas including Wolaita zone, it is a public health problem. Podoconiosis is unique in being an entirely preventable, non-communicable tropical disease with the potential for eradication. Low-cost preventive measures are a simple but effective solution. However, so far it has received little attention from health care policy makes at different levels. The previous study on prevalence of Podoconiosis is out dated which were done before 12 years ago and was not included about associated factors. Therefore this study answered these limitations.Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the Podoconiosis prevalence and its associated factors in Soddo Zuria Woreda, Wolaita Zone South Ethiopia.Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 703 households (1483 Participants) in selected 3 kebeles from January 25- February 20, 2015. The head of the households were interviewed by using structured questionnaire and every member above two years within the house during data collection examined for the signs of Podoconiosis by experienced trained data collectors. Binary & multiple Logistic regression analysis were done.Result: Eighty (5.4%) of study participants were affected by the disease. The significantly contributed factors for prevalence of Podoconiosis in the study area were age above 26 years (AOR=4.15, 95% CI=1.50-11.51), washing practice only by water (AOR=1.86, 95% CI=1.08-3.81), regular walking for different social purpose on barefoot (AOR=4.18, 95% CI=1.84-9.46), time spent on farming above mean hour in farming on barefoot (AOR=2.23, 95% CI=1.31-3.80) , educational level of being illiterate (AOR=10.14, 95% CI=1.37-77.00) and age of first shoes wearing (AOR=8.14, 95% CI=2.61-25.40) of the participants.Conclusion: according to this finding, the current prevalence of Podoconiosis was 5.4% and it was not decreased in last 12 years. The identified predictors that increased the risk for the development of Podoconiosis were Age, Educational status, washing practice, age of first shoes wearing, regular walking on barefoot for social purpose and time spent on farming activities on bare foot. Frontline health workers, programmers, coordinators and different concerned bodies need to scale up education programs on prevention of Podoconiosis.

Keywords: Podoconiosis, mossy foot disease, neglected tropical disease, non-filarial elephantiasis