Influence of health education on community participation in rapid assessment of onchocerciasis prior to distribution of ivermectin.

This article examines the impact of health education on community participation in the rapid assessment of onchocerciasis before distributing ivermectin in Nigeria. The study was conducted in three onchocerciasis-endemic areas of Nigeria--Awhum Umulumgbe and Okpatu--involving 33 50 and 37 male subjects respectively in each community. A health education activity on onchocerciasis was conducted among the adult population and school children of Umulumgbe and Okpatu communities after which a rapid assessment of onchocerciasis was carried out. On the other hand a rapid assessment was also conducted in Awhum in March 1995 before ivermectin distribution without prior health education. The study found that onchocercal nodules were more frequent in the lower part of the subjects body especially around the pelvic region. Onchocercal nodules were indicated by 89.3% of the subjects in Umulumgbe by 100% of the subjects in Okpatu and by 25.6% of the subjects in Awhum. Skin pigmentation was also reported by 100% of the subjects in Umulumgbe and Okpatu and by 50% of the subjects in Awhum. The investigation discovered that some onchocercal nodules were incorrectly identified by the three communities resulting in failure of reporting other clinical manifestations of the disease. Despite these limitations researchers still feel that health education greatly influenced their knowledge on the parasitic disease.