Directly observed treatment increases drug compliance in lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration

Abstract

BACKGROUD.Mass drug administration (MDA) has been one of the strategies for lymphatic filariasis elimination. Since the start of implementation in 2011 in Pekalongan, no study on MDA acceptability has yet been done. The objectives of the study were to determine the microfilaria rate (mf rate) and the risk factors of drug compliance in the MDA program. METHODSA longitudinal study was conducted at Pabean region, Pekalongan City. There were 90 household heads as subjects, who were selected by proportional cluster random sampling. Microfilaria rate (mf rate) was determined by finger blood examination. Drug compliance was measured using questionnaires and observation sheets. Drug compliance observers, filariasis counseling participation, and presence of filariasis patients were factors influencing drug compliance. RESULTSMf rate in 2015 was 1.35% and drug compliance rate was 86.80%. Reasons for failing to take drugs were fear of side effects (50%), refusals (25%), laziness (16.7%), and perceiving the drug to be useless (8.3%). The chisquare test shows a significant difference between the presence of drug compliance observer and compliance (p=0.006). Filariasis counseling participation and presence of filariasis patients did not show a significant difference with drug compliance (p= 0.986). CONCLUSIONSFamilies as the source of observers was associated with increased filariasis drug compliance. It is therefore essential to address the issues linked to low compliance to make the program more efficient and achieve the goal of filariasis elimination.

Implementer and recipient perspectives of community-wide mass drug administration for soil-transmitted helminths in Kwale County, Kenya

“…This is supported by findings from previous studies assessing MDA campaigns for LF in Ghana and Kenya, where distributors specifically highlighted that insufficient MDA duration was linked to lower reach [18,19]. Moreover, uptake was also impacted by overly ambitious treatment quotas as time-pressured CHVs opted to leave tablets at households for absent individuals rather than return to ensure directly observed treatment, which previous studies have linked to increased drug uptake [20]. In order to ensure that workload assignment is efficiently calibrated, implementers must consider the time requirements for all constituent aspects of drug delivery.…”

Low Knowledge and Lack of Awareness Regarding the Mass Drug Administration Health Promotion as the Determinant Factors in Non-Compliance to the Mass Drug Administration Health Program

“…10 Furthermore, the most popular reason for drug noncompliance in the MDA program is the fear of side effects, which was reported in prior studies. 8,11,16,17 In the Pabean area, Indonesia, the respondents, most of whom were batik factory workers, were afraid of suffering from dizziness, nausea, and muscle pain after taking the drugs, which may prevent them to continue their work at the factory later. 16 The percentage of people who experienced side effects was tiny which should not be the biggest concern.…”

Bancroftian Filariasis Transmission Parameters after the Fifth Year of Filiariasis Mass Drug Administration in Pekalongan City

“…2 Results Table 1 shows that most of the respondents were at the age of 35-42 years old category, they were 69 respondents (22.3%); 166 respondents (53.5%) were male; elementary school graduate/equivalent respondents were 115 respondents (37.1%); and Batik Labor respondents were 106 respondents (34.2%). Filarial medication adherence in the filariasis mass drug in 2015 were noted 84.5%.…”

“…The elimination program is carried out through annual mass treatments of DEC and Albendazole for 5 to 10 years in the endemic areas which is known as Distribution of Mass Drug Prevention of Filariasis. 2 Filariasis Mass Drug Administration aims to eliminate filariasis by omitting the transmission sources, people whose blood contained microfilariae. The existence of microfilariae in the patients' blood is the transmission source to other individuals surrounding and to filariasis vector mosquitoes.…”