Prevalence, knowledge attitude and practices associated with onchocerciasis in Enugu east and Nkanu west local government areas of Enugu state, Nigeria

Onchocerciasis is still endemic in Enugu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas of Enugu State. In this survey, the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) and prevalence of onchocerciasis were evaluated. For the KAP aspect of this survey, Interviewers administered questionnaire was used as instrument for collecting information from Respondents who participated in the skin snipping exercise. Skin snips were collected for the prevalence survey. A total of 149 persons participated in the prevalence survey out of which 88 participated in the KAP survey. Correct knowledge of causative agent, mode of transmission and treatment of the disease were 21.60%, 21.60%, 22.72% respectively, which is quite low; while vector control and intake of ivermectin were 77.27% and 37.50% respectively. The result of the microscopic analysis of skin snips showed zero prevalence for both communities. However, palpitation exercise conducted just before skin snipping revealed the presence of nodules on some of the participants. Therefore a community based health education intervention on vector control, cause, mode of transmission and treatment of the disease to improved KAP on onchocerciasis as well as confirmatory analysis of skin snips using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is recommended.Keywords: Onchocerciasis, Onchocerca volvulus, Mode of transmission, Disease treatment, Ivermectin, Knowledge Attitude and Practices (KAP), Skin snip