Oladunni Nimota Adekunle* and Sammy OlufemiSam-Wobo

• access_time15 February, 2024

  subjectCategory: Biological Sciences

• The level of knowledge possessed by community members determines the role it plays in preventing Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) within the population. Our cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) across three communities located in Ose Local Government Area (LGA) Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria. Close-ended structured questionnaires on KAP towards LF were administered to 1,090 consented respondents who were between the ages of 15 and 80 with their responses graded and scored accordingly. Results were presented using descriptive statistics. Results revealed respondents' knowledge on LF was poor as only 7(4%) had correct knowledge on LF. However, 757(69.5%) and 147(13.9%) of the respondents admitted that LF patients could be non-productive and could marry an LF-chronic manifested person respectively. In relation to practices towards LF, 594(54%) of the respondents receiving drugs that had been distributed for preventive chemotherapy. Further analysis showed that although the ownership of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) was high with 862 (72%) respondents being in possession of LLINs, its utilization was low with only267 (25%) sleeping under an LLIN. In conclusion, the poor knowledge on LF could have contributed to the presence of LF in the study area. Continuous efforts by educating community members in the need to fight against LF should be embarked on by the health stakeholders.
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