Kebede Tesfay1, Fitsum Mardu2, Brhane Berhe2, Hadush Negash3, Haftom Legese3, Gebre Adhanom3, Getachew Belay4, Aderajew Gebrewahid3, Shinesh Tesfay5, Zenawi Hagos Gufue6. 1. Unit of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia. teskeb029@gmail.com. 2. Unit of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia. 3. Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia. 4. Unit of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia. 5. Tigrai Health Research institution, Tigrai, Ethiopia. 6. Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to Ethiopia. However, the prevention and control efforts of leishmaniasis remain unfocused with clear knowledge and practice gaps within the country. Thus, a house to house survey has been carried out to assess the knowledge, practice and treatment-seeking behavior of households towards cutaneous leishmaniasis in the rural communities of Tigrai region, northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional house-to-house survey was conducted in two selected rural villages of Ganta-afeshum district, Tigrai, northern Ethiopia in 2019. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the participants. Household heads were interviewed using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Epi info version 7.0 was used for data entry and the data were imported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Chi-square test (χ2) was used to test the association between the independent variables and the knowledge and practice status of the study participants. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant association among the variables. RESULTS: In our study, most of the participants (78%) stated that cutaneous leishmaniasis is a health problem in the area. Three hundred eighty (99.5%) participants responded that the most common clinical presentation of cutaneous leishmaniasis is a lesion on the face. All of the study participants did not know the mode of cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission, and had never heard of the sand fly. A majority of the participants were unaware of the main prevention methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Lastly, traditional medicine was used in 90% of the study households with a previous history for cutaneous leishmaniasis. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of awareness regarding the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ganta-afeshum, Ethiopia, where the majority of individuals are unfamiliar with the sand fly vector. Prevention methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis were unavailable among the community. Therefore, health education programs concerning cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission, prevention, and treatment in the area should be rigorously implemented.
BACKGROUND:Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to Ethiopia. However, the prevention and control efforts of leishmaniasis remain unfocused with clear knowledge and practice gaps within the country. Thus, a house to house survey has been carried out to assess the knowledge, practice and treatment-seeking behavior of households towards cutaneous leishmaniasis in the rural communities of Tigrai region, northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional house-to-house survey was conducted in two selected rural villages of Ganta-afeshum district, Tigrai, northern Ethiopia in 2019. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the participants. Household heads were interviewed using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Epi info version 7.0 was used for data entry and the data were imported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Chi-square test (χ2) was used to test the association between the independent variables and the knowledge and practice status of the study participants. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant association among the variables. RESULTS: In our study, most of the participants (78%) stated that cutaneous leishmaniasis is a health problem in the area. Three hundred eighty (99.5%) participants responded that the most common clinical presentation of cutaneous leishmaniasis is a lesion on the face. All of the study participants did not know the mode of cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission, and had never heard of the sand fly. A majority of the participants were unaware of the main prevention methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Lastly, traditional medicine was used in 90% of the study households with a previous history for cutaneous leishmaniasis. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of awareness regarding the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ganta-afeshum, Ethiopia, where the majority of individuals are unfamiliar with the sand fly vector. Prevention methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis were unavailable among the community. Therefore, health education programs concerning cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission, prevention, and treatment in the area should be rigorously implemented.
Authors: Saskia van Henten; Wim Adriaensen; Helina Fikre; Hannah Akuffo; Ermias Diro; Asrat Hailu; Gert Van der Auwera; Johan van Griensven Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2019-01-08