Evaluation of primary intervention on knowledge, attitude and preventive practices on onchocerciasis among adults in south west Nigeria

Purpose:

This study evaluated effect of structured health education intervention on knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices related to onchocerciasis among adults in selected rural communities.

Methods:

It was a community-based quasi-experimental study where mixed method of data collection (quantitative and qualitative method) were used. Consented 600 adults aged 20years and above were equally recruited from endemic (intervention) and non-endemic (control) communities using randomsampling technique. Intervention group had interactive, culturally appropriate education sessions.

Results:

Baseline knowledge, attitudes and preventive practice were poor in both groups. Post- intervention, good knowledge (99.2%), attitudes (82.0%) and preventive practices (65.5%) increased significantly among intervention group while control group showed minimal changes. Adjusted analysesdemonstrated higher odds of good post-intervention outcomes in intervention group for knowledge (OR = 3.50), attitudes (OR = 2.21), and preventive practices (OR = 2.00).

Conclusion:

This support integration of targeted health education into community treatment to strengthen sustainable onchocerciasis control.