Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Mar 13;18(3):e0011995. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011995. eCollection 2024 Mar.
In Ethiopia, Onchocerciasis is a prevalent neglected tropical disease, currently targeted for elimination with mass drug administration and community behavioral changes towards sustained control and eventual elimination. This study aimed to elucidate the awareness, perceptions and practices of endemic communities in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.
Community-based cross-sectional study triangulated with qualitative method was conducted from October-November, 2021. A multistage sampling was employed and data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of comprehensive knowledge and preventive practice. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated at 95% confidence interval (CI) and considered significant with a p-value of <0.05. Kruskal-Whallis and Mann-whitney tests were used to compare median risk perception score by socio-demographic factors. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews and transcribed verbatim. Then the data were coded, categorized, and themes were developed.
The overall prevalence of adequate comprehensive knowledge was 48.8% (95% CI: 44.9, 52.3), high risk perception was 18.7% (95%CI15.9, 21.4) and preventive practice was 46.9%(95%CI:(43.3,50.4). High risk perception[AOR = 1.95 95%CI: (1.32, 2.89] was statistically significant with comprehensive knowledge, likewise knowledge of mode of transmission [AOR = 2.64 95% CI: (1.44, 4.85)], knowledge of consequences [AOR = 2.12 95%CI: (1.21, 3.72)] and knowledge of preventive measures [AOR = 15.65,95%CI:(10.1, 24.2)] were statistically significant with preventive practice. The median risk perception was varied significantly between the groups by educational status, study district and age category. Qualitative evidence showed that there were great community knowledge gap about the disease.
Community knowledge, perceptions, and practices are unacceptably low. Risk perception was significantly associated with comprehensive knowledge, likewise knowledge of mode of transmission, consequences and preventive measures were significantly associated with preventive practice. This implies knowledge is a key component of effective prevention strategies as it is a necessary condition for the behavior change.
在埃塞俄比亚，盘尾丝虫病是一种流行的被忽视的热带病，目前通过大规模药物治疗和社区行为改变来消除该病，以实现持续控制和最终消除。本研究旨在阐明吉姆马地区流行社区的意识、看法和做法。
2021 年 10 月至 11 月，采用基于社区的横断面研究与定性方法相结合的方法进行。采用多阶段抽样，使用预先测试的访谈式结构化问卷收集数据。采用逻辑回归来确定综合知识和预防实践的预测因素。调整后的优势比在 95%置信区间（CI）内计算，并认为具有统计学意义的 p 值<0.05。采用 Kruskal-Wallis 和 Mann-Whitney 检验比较社会人口因素的风险感知得分中位数。通过焦点小组讨论和关键知情人访谈收集定性数据，并逐字转录。然后对数据进行编码、分类，并开发主题。
综合知识的总体充足率为 48.8%（95%CI：44.9，52.3），高风险感知率为 18.7%（95%CI：15.9，21.4），预防实践率为 46.9%（95%CI：43.3，50.4）。高风险感知（AOR=1.95 95%CI：1.32，2.89）与综合知识具有统计学意义，同样，传播方式知识（AOR=2.64 95%CI：1.44，4.85）、后果知识（AOR=2.12 95%CI：1.21，3.72）和预防措施知识（AOR=15.65，95%CI：10.1，24.2）与预防实践具有统计学意义。风险感知的中位数在教育程度、研究区和年龄组之间存在显著差异。定性证据表明，社区对该病的知识存在很大差距。
社区知识、认知和实践水平低得令人无法接受。风险感知与综合知识显著相关，同样，传播方式、后果和预防措施知识与预防实践显著相关。这意味着知识是有效预防策略的关键组成部分，因为它是行为改变的必要条件。
