title: Characteristics of persons who complied with and failed to comply with annual ivermectin treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess individual compliance with annual ivermectin treatment in onchocerciasis-endemic villages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-site study in eight APOC-sponsored projects in Cameroon, Nigeria and Uganda to identify the socio-demographic correlates of compliance with ivermectin treatment. A structured questionnaire was administered on 2305 persons aged 10 years and above. Two categories of respondents were purposively selected to obtain both high and low compliers: people who took ivermectin 6-8 times and 0-2 times previously. Simple descriptive statistics were employed in characterizing the respondents into high and low compliers, while some socio-demographic and key perceptual factors were employed in regression models constructed to explain levels of compliance among the respondents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some demographic and perceptual factors associated with compliance were identified. Compliance was more common among men (54.4%) (P < 0.001). Adults (54.6%) had greater rates of high compliance (P < 0.001. The mean age of high compliers (41.5 years) was significantly older (35.8 years) (t = 8.46, P < 0.001). Perception of onchocerciasis and effectiveness of ivermectin influenced compliance. 81.4% of respondents saw benefits in annual ivermectin treatment, high compliance among those who saw benefits was 59.3% compared to 13.3% of those who did not (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to increase compliance with ivermectin treatment should focus on providing health education to youth and women. Health education should also highlight the benefits of taking ivermectin.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Brieger
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Okeibunor
authors.forename: Adenike O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Abiose
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ndyomugyenyi
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanji
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elhassan
authors.forename: Uche V
authors.initials: UV
authors.lastname: Amazigo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D009549:Nigeria; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007559:Ivermectin