title: Knowledge on lymphatic filariasis and the response to July 2002 mass treatment campaign in two communities in the Galle district.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the knowledge on filariasis and response to the July 2002 mass treatment campaign in two sample populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Application of pre-tested questionnaire by direct interviews of individuals from randomly selected streets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study areas were a coastal community in Unawatuna (population sample 381), and an inland community in Baddegama (population sample 236) in the Galle district. They were interviewed twice, 4 weeks before the mass drug administration (MDA) and 4 to 7 days after.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample population of Unawatuna had a greater awareness of the clinical and parasitological features of the disease (p = 0.0003) and the drug treatment (p = 0.00380 than that of Baddegama. Only 5.5% of the combined sample attributed the cause of filariasis to a parasitic worm. However, over 70.0% of them knew that transmission was through mosquito bites. Volunteers formed 87.5% of the work force used for drug distribution in Unawatuna and 70.1% in Baddegama. The balance work force were Grama Niladaris and Public Health Midwives. Drugs were received by 76.9% of the Unawatuna sample compared with 89.0% at Baddegama (p < 0.001). Among those who received the drugs, consumption was 91.8% in Unawatuna and 96.2% in Baddegama. Taking the two communities together adverse effects were experienced by 22.9%. These effects in night time drug consumers (10.4%) were significantly less than in day time consumers (19.8%) (p < 0.005). The adverse effects were sleepiness (37.8%), malaise (28.2%), headache (16.8%), vomiting (5.1%), nausea (4.5%) and fever (3.9%). The message of mass treatment was carried to the community by the people themselves on the eve and on the day of drug distribution. Over 95% agreed that in future programs drugs should be delivered to their homes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Ruhuna. yahath@paras.ruh.ac.lk
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Yahathugoda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wickramasinghe
authors.forename: Tilaks S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Liyanage
authors.forename: Mirani V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Weerasooriya
authors.forename: Malka P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mudalige
authors.forename: Eisha I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Waidyaratna
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Samarawickrema
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005369:Filaricides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides