Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti, Nigeria.
University Medical Centre, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti, Nigeria.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Mar 29;15(3):e0009315. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009315. eCollection 2021 Mar.
The need to control Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and sustain progress towards elimination through mass administration of medicines requires substantial communal participation. This study, therefore, assessed the knowledge and perception of attendees' regarding NTDs and its control activities during the inaugural World NTD day event in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
A cross-sectional study involving the administration of pretested semi-structured questionnaires to consenting attendees at the Inaugural World NTD day event was conducted on the 30th January, 2020. The questionnaire collected data on attendee's demography, knowledge and awareness about NTDs and its control in Nigeria. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. 20.0 software and expressed as frequencies and percentages. However, qualitative data to support quantitative analysis were obtained using open-ended questionnaires and analysed thematically.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS/CONCLUSION: A total of 309 attendees comprising 167 (54.0%) females, and 142 (46.0%) males participated in this study. By age groupings, majority 206 (66.7%) were within 15-25 years. 167 (54.8%) of the attendees have not heard about NTDs before, whereas 77(35.0%) have heard about NTDs through the advertisement of the event. 181(63.3%) were aware of ongoing NTD control programs in schools and communities. Also, 246 (83.4%) of them have not taken or do not know anyone that has taken drugs donated in schools or communities. The number of attendees 41(13.3%) who incorrectly classified malaria as NTDs is higher than those who recognized onchocerciasis 36 (11.7%) and worm infections 34(11.0%) as NTDs (p>0.05). This study has shown that awareness and knowledge about NTDs control activities in Ekiti State is low, thus justifying the event as an awareness day for addressing NTDs. Public enlightment and regular promotional activities such as media engagement will raise the public appreciation and participation in NTDs control activities.
控制被忽视的热带病（NTDs）并通过大规模药物管理维持消除进展的需求需要大量社区参与。因此，本研究评估了在尼日利亚埃基提州举行的第一届世界 NTD 日活动期间，与会者对 NTDs 及其控制活动的知识和看法。
这是一项横断面研究，在 2020 年 1 月 30 日，对第一届世界 NTD 日活动的同意参与者进行了预测试半结构式问卷的管理。问卷收集了与会者的人口统计学数据、他们对 NTDs 及其在尼日利亚控制的知识和意识。使用 SPSS 20.0 软件进行定量数据分析，并以频率和百分比表示。然而，为了支持定量分析，还使用开放式问卷获得了定性数据，并进行了主题分析。
主要发现/结论：共有 309 名参与者参加了这项研究，其中 167 名（54.0%）为女性，142 名（46.0%）为男性。按年龄分组，大多数参与者 206 人（66.7%）在 15-25 岁之间。167 名（54.8%）的参与者以前从未听说过 NTDs，而 77 名（35.0%）通过活动广告听说过 NTDs。181 名（63.3%）的人知道正在学校和社区开展的 NTD 控制计划。此外，他们中有 246 人（83.4%）没有服用过或不知道有人在学校或社区服用过捐赠的药物。将疟疾错误归类为 NTDs 的参与者人数 41 人（13.3%）高于将盘尾丝虫病 36 人（11.7%）和蠕虫感染 34 人（11.0%）正确归类为 NTDs 的参与者人数（p>0.05）。这项研究表明，埃基提州对 NTD 控制活动的认识和知识水平较低，因此该活动是解决 NTDs 的意识日。公众启蒙和定期的宣传活动，如媒体参与，将提高公众对 NTDs 控制活动的赞赏和参与。
