02562nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001260003200042653002500074653001900099653001200118653003900130100001400169700001200183700001200195700001500207245011200222300001400334490000600348520200200354       2014                            d  bSCIENCEDOMAIN International10aTreatment compliance10aonchocerciasis10aNigeria10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)1 aEzeigbo O1 aNwoke B1 aUkaga C1 aEmecheta R00aWillingness of individuals to comply with annual and long-term ivermectin treatment in Abia State, Nigeria.  a2212-22190 v43 a<p>This study was designed to document individuals' adherence to annual ivermectin treatment and people's willingness to continue taking ivermectin as an important predictor of sustained compliance with long-term ivermectin treatment. The study which was conducted between April and September, 2011 adopted a cross-sectional approach in collecting quantitative and qualitative data from the two Local Government Areas of Abia State that were assessed by REMO as hyper-endemic for onchocerciasis. The study population involved both high and low compliers groups. A Structured questionnaire was administered to 558 people to ascertain their compliance rate to annual and long-term ivermectin treatment and their willingness to sustain the treatment. Of these, 195 (34.9%) were males while 363 (65.1%) were females. Among these groups, 53.8% and 57.3% of males and females respectively were treated before. Of the 195 males and 363 females, only 25 (12.8%) males and 45 (12.4%) females were high compliers. On their willingness to continue with the drug, 483 (86.6%) claimed that most people take the drug, 495 (88.7%) affirmed that most people will continue with the drug while 555 (99.5%) indicated that they are personally willing to continue with the drug if made available. This is confirmed by the Chi-square (χ2) analysis at 0.05 level of significance that people are personally willing to continue with the drug if available (χ2cal =163.585, P-value &lt; 0.0001). Suggestions on ways to improve compliance to annual and long-term ivermectin treatment showed that health education/enlightenment ranked very high (78.3%). This is followed by "awareness through church/school" (77.5%). It is imperative that the existing health education materials be reviewed by taking into cognizance such factors that will improve individual's willingness to comply with annual and long-term ivermectin treatment. Such materials should emphasize compliance among youths and children 5 years and above.</p>