Knowledge on lymphatic filariasis and mass drug administration (MDA) programme in filaria endemic districts of Andhra Pradesh, India

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a serious socioeconomic and public health problem in the world. As on December 2006, the total population at risk for LF was estimated to be 1254 million in 83 endemic countries, of which 64% contributed by Southeast Asia region alone. In India, it is estimated that 554.2 million population are at risk of LF infection in 243 implementation units (districts). National Health Policy 2002 aims at elimination of transmission and the prevention of disability due to LF by the year 2015. In Andhra Pradesh (A.P.), sixteen districts are under mass drug administration (MDA) programme covering 54 million population with annual single dose of diethyl carbamazine citrate (DEC) tablets orally. Recently, it was estimated that microfilaria (mf) rate in endemic area of East Godavari district of A.P. as 4.43% and 3.48% after VI and VII rounds of MDA programme respectively . There is a growing recognition that community involvement and effective health education will play a critical role in the success of elimination of lymphatic filariasis (ELF) from India by 2015. A survey was therefore initiated between September 2006 and May 2007, in five filarial endemic districts of A.P. to know about the knowledge of LF and the ongoing MDA programme in the community.