Mass Drug Administration Coverage Evaluation Survey for Lymphatic Filariasis: An Experience from Paschim Bardhaman District, West Bengal

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to assess the coverage and compliance of mass drug administration (MDA) to identify the factors for non-compliance, to find out the side effects experienced by the consumers and to ascertain the constraints/problems in implementing MDA by the functionaries in Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal after the last round of MDA (Dec 2017). Methods:In this cross-sectional coverage evaluation survey, one urban and three rural clusters were selected, using multistage cluster sampling. At least 30 households and 150 eligible subjects were included from each cluster (village/ward). Participants were interviewed using pre-designed and pretested schedule. A qualitative assessment was also done in the form of in-depth interview of different program implementers and participants.Results: Among the 660 eligible populations interviewed, distribution coverage for DEC and both the drugs were 76.4% and 74.8% respectively. For DEC, effective coverage was found to be 64.1%, which was 63.3% for both the drugs. Overall supervised consumption rate was very low (32% for DEC and 30.3% for both the drugs). Insufficient and delayed availability of drugs and IEC materials, budgetary constraints in undertaking IEC activities, poor community mobilization, and negligible supervised administration of drugs by the drug distributers were found to be the key qualitative issues.Conclusions: Supervised consumption of drugs in the presence of drug distributors was found to be grossly neglected in this district. Proper availability of medicines and logistics should be ensured and coordinated, and community awareness should be strengthened for successful implementation of this activity.