Understanding the community impact of lymphatic filariasis: a review of the sociocultural literature

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is endemic in approximately 80 tropical and subtropical countries. About 120 million people are infected with the parasite and a billion are estimated to be at risk of infection. The main focus of the LF elimination programme to date has been to interrupt transmission by means of annual community-wide treatment campaigns with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole, or albendazole and ivermectin, for a period of four to six years. Although substantial progress has been recorded wherever the strategy has been successfully implemented, initial gains have been accompanied by a realization that this strategy alone will not ensure a permanent solution in all settings. The fairly extensive LF literature is dominated by laboratory research and quantitative field measurement of the impact of LF, particularly local prevalence studies of parasite-infected humans and vectors. As the global elimination programme expands, the absence of sociocultural understanding is being recognized as a critical flaw in ensuring that programmes are appropriate and responsive to local needs and understanding. This paper assesses the current state of sociocultural understanding pertaining to LF. It concludes that, at present, there is insufficient understanding of the sociocultural factors associated with the presence and treatment of the disease, and that appropriate social science methods should be used to address this deficiency and ensure community partnership in delivering and sustaining the success of LF elimination programmes.

Travel-Related Parasitic Infections in Travellers to Southeast Asia and Western Pacific Countries

“…Ayrıca WHO' ya göre, LF akıl hastalığından sonra uzun süreli engelliliğin en sık görülen ikinci nedeni olarak belirtilmiştir (30 Gıda kaynaklı trematod enfeksiyonları ile dünya genelinde 40 milyondan fazla kişi enfekte olup dünya nüfusunun %10'undan fazlası risk altındadır. Önceki yıllarda geleneksel olarak sınırlı bölgelerde ve özellikle gelir düzeyi düşük toplumlarda görülen gıda kaynaklı trematod enfeksiyonları, şuanda büyüyen uluslararası piyasalar ve ulaşım sistemlerinin geliştirilmesi ile daha geniş dağılım alanı göster-mektedir (36).…”

Developmental and pathological lymphangiogenesis: from models to human disease

“…Worldwide, the main cause of lymphedema is Wlariasis, in over 80 tropical and subtropical countries, with about 120 million people aVected (Wynd et al 2007). This disease is caused by infection with the mosquito-borne parasites Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, which live and reproduce in the lymphatic system.…”

Filarial hydrocele: a neglected condition of a neglected tropical disease

“…Gyapong et al [14] found that hydroceles had a significant impact on young men, particularly at a time when they were struggling to establish their sexual identity and their capacity to be reliable economic providers. However, unwillingness of men to admit to sexual dysfunction may shroud the real extent of this issue [11].…”

“…Filarial hydroceles can have significant, and often negative, social impacts [7,[9][10][11]. The degree of social disability varies among cultural settings, but the extent of stigmatization appears to be directly correlated with the severity of visible disease [12,13].…”