02692nas a2200409   4500000000100000008004100001653001600042653001100058653001700069653002600086653001900112653001200131653002500143653000900168653001500177653001100192653001100203653002100214653003300235653001000268653001300278653002500291653001000316653001500326100001400341700001200355700001900367700001500386700001400401700001600415700001300431245010400444300001100548490000700559520170200566022001402268       2012                            d10aYoung Adult10auganda10aTime Factors10aSocioeconomic Factors10aonchocerciasis10aNigeria10aMedication adherence10aMale10aIvermectin10aHumans10aFemale10aEndemic Diseases10aDrug Administration Schedule10aChild10aCameroon10aAntiparasitic Agents10aAdult10aAdolescent1 aAmazigo U1 aWanji S1 aNdyomugyenyi R1 aElhassan E1 aBrieger W1 aOkeibunor J1 aAbiose A00aCharacteristics of persons who complied with and failed to comply with annual ivermectin treatment.  a920-300 v173 a<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To assess individual compliance with annual ivermectin treatment in onchocerciasis-endemic villages.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>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.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Some demographic and perceptual factors associated with compliance were identified. Compliance was more common among men (54.4%) (P &lt; 0.001). Adults (54.6%) had greater rates of high compliance (P &lt; 0.001. The mean age of high compliers (41.5 years) was significantly older (35.8 years) (t = 8.46, P &lt; 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 &lt; 0.001).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>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.</p>
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