Abstract
The need to control Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and sustain progress towards elimination through mass administration of medicines requires substantial communal participation. This study, therefore, assessed the knowledge and perception of attendees' regarding NTDs and its control activities during the inaugural World NTD day event in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study involving the administration of pretested semi-structured questionnaires to consenting attendees at the Inaugural World NTD day event was conducted on the 30th January, 2020. The questionnaire collected data on attendee's demography, knowledge and awareness about NTDs and its control in Nigeria. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. 20.0 software and expressed as frequencies and percentages. However, qualitative data to support quantitative analysis were obtained using open-ended questionnaires and analysed thematically. A total of 309 attendees comprising 167 (54.0%) females, and 142 (46.0%) males participated in this study. By age groupings, majority 206 (66.7%) were within 15-25 years. 167 (54.8%) of the attendees have not heard about NTDs before, whereas 77(35.0%) have heard about NTDs through the advertisement of the event. 181(63.3%) were aware of ongoing NTD control programs in schools and communities. Also, 246 (83.4%) of them have not taken or do not know anyone that has taken drugs donated in schools or communities. The number of attendees 41(13.3%) who incorrectly classified malaria as NTDs is higher than those who recognized onchocerciasis 36 (11.7%) and worm infections 34(11.0%) as NTDs (p>0.05). This study has shown that awareness and knowledge about NTDs control activities in Ekiti State is low, thus justifying the event as an awareness day for addressing NTDs. Public enlightment and regular promotional activities such as media engagement will raise the public appreciation and participation in NTDs control activities.
Highlights
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) represents a diverse group of communicable, disabling, chronic and disfiguring diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions [1,2,3]
The epidemiological profiles of snakebite, scabies and mycetoma remain largely unknown in Nigeria, over half of the WHO recognized NTDs are present in Nigeria [10,11,12,13]
The country has the highest number of people infected or at risk in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with NTDs amenable to preventive chemotherapy (PC-NTDs) such as onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) [3,9,14,15]
Summary
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) represents a diverse group of communicable, disabling, chronic and disfiguring diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions [1,2,3]. NTDs affect more than one billion people in 149 countries, most especially the rural and disadvantaged urban settings challenged by poverty. These areas are usually characterized by inadequate access to water and sanitation facilities, close proximity to infectious vectors and domestic animals or livestock [4,5,6]. The newly launched WHO 2021–2030 NTDs roadmap identifies the specific targets and milestones set for each of the 20 diseases, with 2, 11 and 8 of the diseases targeted for eradication, elimination and control respectively by 2030 [8]. The need to control Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and sustain progress towards elimination through mass administration of medicines requires substantial communal participation. This study, assessed the knowledge and perception of attendees’ regarding NTDs and its control activities during the inaugural World NTD day event in Ekiti State, Nigeria
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