Prevalence And Disabilities Caused By Guinea-Worm Disease (Dracunculiasis) Infection Among Rural Dwellers In Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey was carried out in 2001 to ascertain the status of Guinea worm disease infection among farm households in Ebonyi Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State. A total of 3,777 respondents were randomly sampled from 15 communities that comprised the LGA. The sample respondents were clinically examined and then interviewed with structured questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed using percentages, frequency and ratios. Results of the study revealed that a total of 192 respondents were infected by the disease which gave prevalence rate of 5.08%. Majority (54.15%) of the infected persons were farmers who were in the prime of their productive lives. It is therefore recommended that portable clean and safe drinking water should be provided to the rural communities in the study area. This requires the assistance of both governments and non-government organizations. Again, awareness campaign should be mounted in the study area to sensitize the rural communities on the prevalence of the disease in their area as well as the necessary precautionary measures to avoid infection of the disease. On the other hand health and agricultural extension workers should educate the rural households on the various safety measures to prevent infection of the disease and/or manage the disease if one becomes infected.

Introductory Chapter: Possible Occupational, Technological and Climatic Contributions to Rare Diseases Occurance

“…Potable water supply in Sub-Sahara Africa is an uphill task due to inadequate policy formulation to cover poverty and disease-laden rural dwellers. A decade ago, Ebonyi State in Nigeria was devastated by guinea worm infestation of water sources that it needed international support for eradication [2,3], yet, it is possible that in local water sources, inorganic and organic chemical pollution was not taken into account by the relevant authorities in the same way that the guinea worm was.…”