Prevalence of Onchocerciasis and Associated Factors among Adults Aged ≥ 15 Years in Semen Bench District, Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. Though onchocerciasis control and elimination through community directed treatment with ivermectin were conducted for the last fifteen years, prevalence of onchocerciasis and factors associated with it in the study area are yet not known. The aim of the current study is to assess prevalence of onchocerciasis and associated factors among adults aged greater than or equal to fifteen years in Semen Bench district, Bench Maji zone, southwest Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study 2018. Methods. Community based cross-sectional study was conducted on 553 study participants selected by multistage sampling in April 2018. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were done to summarize dependent and independent variables. Bivariate logistic regression was done to select candidate variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of onchocerciasis infection. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% CI were calculated to assess association and statistical significance, respectively. Confidence interval was used to declare statistical significance. Result. The overall prevalence of onchocerciasis infection in the study area was 6.32%. Age category of 35-44 years (AOR: 13.48, 95%CI: 3.51, 51.76), age of 45 years and above (AOR: 9.41, 95% CI: 2.26, 39.06), male sex (AOR 4.568, 95% C.I: 1.622, 12.861), not being compliant with ivermectin treatment (AOR: 3.804, 95%CI: 1.524, 9.49), and residing at less than 2Km from the river (AOR: 9.15, 95%CI: 3.9, 21.49) were significantly associated with onchocerciasis infection. Conclusion and Recommendation. After more than a decade of treatment with ivermectin, onchocerciasis in the study area is still hypoendemic. Zonal health department and other stakeholders should evaluate therapeutic coverage and community directed treatment with ivermectin in the study area. Zonal health department with other stokeholds should give community based information education communication, giving due attention to older ages, male residents, and those living near the rivers. Further community based study should also be done to identify factors hindering the community compliance with the treatment.

Status of parasitological indicators and morbidity burden of onchocerciasis after years of successive implementation of mass distribution of ivermectin in selected communities of Yeki and Asosa districts, Ethiopia

“…Similar findings were reported from other endemic areas where at least 14 rounds of MDA was carried out in Africa [45,[49][50][51][52][53][54] and Latin America [55]. In contrast, irrespective of long term CDTi, considerably higher prevalences than the present finding were reported from other CDTi implementation areas in Africa [29,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62]. Several factors may have contributed to the differences in the impact of CDTi.…”

Determinants of community-led ivermectin treatment adherence for onchocerciasis control in Western Ethiopia: a case-control study

“…Likewise, in this study, living around river basin was an independent determinant for CLTI adherence. A kind of community living condition therefor, increased utilization of annual treatments with ivermectin, as likely supported by findings conducted elsewhere [4,32,39]. Fast flowing river water bed is the commonest suitable ecological zone in which flies are harbored and breed.…”

“…In endemic localities of RB, communities' hesitation to inhabit and dwell around fertile riverside (bank) is linked with black fly infestation [37][38][39]. Likewise, in this study, living around river basin was an independent determinant for CLTI adherence.…”

Compliance to a Five-Year Biannual Ivermectin Treatment for Onchocerciasis Elimination and Its Determinants among Adults in the Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…Even though the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia had set a goal to eliminate onchocerciasis and to stop community-directed treatment with ivermectin by the end of 2020, it was shifted to 2025 due to the potential transmission of the disease in the endemic areas [ 13 ]. In our study area, the Bench Maji Zone, the annual and the biannual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) to control and eliminate the disease were started in 2003 and 2013, respectively; however, the prevalence study done in the area showed that the disease prevalence was still 6.32% [ 8 ]. Even though the aforementioned community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) was proven effective in treating the disease, the level of compliance to the treatment was not well addressed in our study area.…”

“…The 2019 and the 2020 WHO report, respectively, showed that more than 99% and more than 80% of the infected cases live in 31 African countries [1,2]. Different studies done in Ethiopia showed that the disease is still more prevalent in western and southwestern parts of the country with the prevalence range of 6.32% in the Bench Maji Zone to 31.3% in indigenous communities of Assosa [7][8][9].…”