An investigation of onchocerciasis disease in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Implications for community health counseling programs.

Despite the control programme mounted in 1997 by the African Programme on Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) in collaboration with Ebonyi State Government, the disease still persists. The main purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of Onchocerciasis disease in Ebonyi State. The survey research design was used to carry out the study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied using a structured questionnaire to elicit information from 22934 respondents aged 10 years and above. Most of the affected respondents have Nodules 36.2% and blindness affects the least 2.5%. Other symptomatic distributions of Onchocerciasis disease are as follows: Rashes/itching 29.5%, Leopard skin 19.3%, Lizard skin 16.7% and Ocular lesion/visual impairment 11.4%. The results showed an overall Onchocerciasis rate of 19.3%. Nodules 36.2% was the commonest sign and symptom of Onchocerciasis disease in the study area. Community health counselling programs should be created, intensifying and targeting efforts to promote feasible and cost-effective preventive measures against the transmission of Onchocerciasis disease in Ebonyi State.