EVALUATION OF ONCHOCERCIASIS STATUS OF SOME COMMUNITIES IN ZANGON KATAF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

Abstract

Onchocerciasis is a disease of public health concern in Nigeria caused by the parasite Onchocerca volvulus and transmitted by a vector blackfly. The aim of the study was to evaluate the status of Onchocerciasis of some communities in Madakiya, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in five communities of Madakiya with a total of 100 respondents participated during the study. Serological screening was carried out using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RTD) kit with sensitivity of 74.8% and a specificity of 98.6%. Descriptive statistics was used in analysing data with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.00. All the participants (100) were negative with most of the respondents within the ages > 40 years with most involving in farming activities in the Area. Human activities such as the harvesting of crops, washing and swimming as some of the risk factor with no clinical symptoms. The findings of this study concluded that the rate of infection among participants was negative with most of the respondents been farmers within the age 40 years with most to had been bitten by blackflies and treated using Mectizan/Albendazole. There is need for mass testing of individuals in endemic areas and further ensure mass drug administration for complete treatment in order to break the transmission of the disease.