Abstract
BackgroundThe Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) started operation in 2000 and aimed at eliminating the disease by the year 2020, following 5–6 rounds of effective annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA). The MDA programme took off in Ghana in 2001 and has interrupted transmission in many areas while it has persisted in some areas after 10 or more rounds of MDA. This study was to appreciate community members’ perspectives on MDA after over 15 years of implementation. Findings will inform strategies to mobilise community members to participate fully in MDA to enhance the disease elimination process.MethodsThis was a qualitative study, employing key-informant in-depth-interviews. Respondents were selected based on their recognition by community members as opinion leaders and persons who were knowledgeable about the topic of interest in the community. A snowball sampling technique was used to select respondents.ResultsRespondents were well informed about the MDA with most of them saying, it has been implemented for over 12 years. They were aware that the MDA was for the treatment/control of LF (elephantiasis). It came to light that MDA compliance was affected by five related barriers. These are; Medication, Personal, Health system, Disease and Social structure related barriers. Adverse effects of the drugs and the fact that many people perceived that they were not susceptibility to the infection have grossly affected the ingestion of the drugs.ConclusionThere is a need for community mobilization and promotional activities to explain the expected adverse reactions associated with the drugs to the people. Also the importance of why every qualified person in the community must comply with MDA must be emphasized.
Highlights
The Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) started operation in 2000 and aimed at eliminating the disease by the year 2020, following 5–6 rounds of effective annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
Lymphatic filariasis (LF), which results from infection with the mosquito borne nematode parasite Wuchereria bancrofti, is an important public health problem that has been targeted for elimination by 2020
The commonest clinical manifestations of LF are acute attacks of adenolymphangitis (ADL), characterised by episodic attacks of fever associated with inflammation of the inguinal lymph nodes, testis, spermatic cord or a combination of these, and disfiguring chronic conditions like lymphoedema/elephantiasis, which may render victims to social scorn and stigmatization in the community and thereby making them lose self-esteem [2, 3, 5]
Summary
The Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) started operation in 2000 and aimed at eliminating the disease by the year 2020, following 5–6 rounds of effective annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA). Lymphatic filariasis (LF), which results from infection with the mosquito borne nematode parasite Wuchereria bancrofti, is an important public health problem that has been targeted for elimination by 2020. It affects 120 million people in 73 countries where 1. The drugs of choice for the global elimination programme were Ivermectin (IVM) in combination with Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or Albendazole (ALB) [1]. It is instructive to note that, in Ghana, MDA coverage rates were more than the required 65%, in 29 sentinel sites, which have persistent residual infections, with microfilariae prevalence rates > 1% [11]
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