Willingness of individuals to comply with annual and long-term ivermectin treatment in Abia State, Nigeria.

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 < 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.