03142nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260002000042653001800062100001400080700001600094700001500110700001200125700001400137700002100151700001400172700001500186700001300201245016300214856006000377520248700437       2021                            d  bResearch Square10aNon-adherence1 aAkazili J1 aAgoringya I1 aKanmiki EW1 aWoode M1 aAlomatu B1 aOsei-Atweneboa M1 aThomson R1 aSelormey P1 aKhan JAM00aCorrelates of Non-Participation in Mass Drug Administration Against Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Assin North Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana  uhttps://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-366390/v1.pdf3 a<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
        <jats:p><jats:bold>Background:</jats:bold> Many countries in Africa are making progress towards reducing the incidence of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and possibly eliminating them completely. Through the accepted global strategy of Mass Drug Administration (MDA), the COUNTDOWN project<jats:sup>1</jats:sup> has made significant attempts through a partnership with the Ghana Health Service to reduce the incidence and impact of NTDs particularly Schistosomiasis (SCH), Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH), Onchocerciasis (OV), and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in Ghana. However, elimination can be achieved only when the key players including the community members comply with the programme guidelines and requirements by participating in MDA campaigns against NTDs. The objective of the paper is to examine the factors influencing community members’ participation in MDA programs that seeks to bring the services of NTDs prevention to the doorstep of individuals. <jats:bold>Methods:</jats:bold> We used a population-based survey data of 1,034 people from 296 households collected in the Assin North Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. First, chi-square test was used to test the association of socio-economic factors and participation in MDAs. Subsequently, we ran a multilevel logistic regression model to estimate the association of factors that influence non-participation in MDA by community members. <jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold>Nearly a quarter of respondents had once suffered from STH (22.5%) and a small fraction from bilharzia (7.4), river blindness (1.1%), and nobody suffered from LF. Although almost all respondents (97%) had ever heard of MDA campaign, 22% of respondents missed or did not participate in a MDA program. Factors that were found to correlate with non-participation in MDA programs are marital status and previously receiving tablets from a MDA campaign. <jats:bold>Conclusion:</jats:bold> Results showed that MDA participation by community members is relatively high and thus Ghana’s efforts at eliminating NTDs through MDA is on course. However, continues public education is required to maintain high participation and possibly improve upon it. <jats:sup>1</jats:sup>The project looks at the parasitological, epidemiological as well as the socio-economic factors that influence the acceptance, effectiveness, efficiency and equity impact of scale-up from a health systems approach</jats:p>