Abdissa Daba, Kebede Yohannes, Morankar Sudhakar, Abraham Gelila, Bulcha Gebeyehu, Shiferaw Teshome, Berhanu Nimona, Teshome Firanbon, Miecha Hirpa, Birhanu Zewdie
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2024 Oct 1;17:2331-2357. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S468390. eCollection 2024.
Despite control efforts, including mass drug administration (MDA), neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to pose a significant public health threat, particularly in rural Ethiopia. Integrating social and behavior change communication (SBCC) into MDA is essential for success. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tailored SBCC integrated into MDA campaigns to enhance community knowledge, perception, and preventive behaviors regarding targeted NTDs in the Jimma, Ethiopia.
A community-based study was conducted using a pre-test post-test design. A multistage sampling technique was employed for surveys, while for qualitative insights, purposive sampling was employed. SBCC interventions tailored to local needs were implemented. Changes in knowledge, perception, and practices were evaluated using Cohen's d. Additionally, a score for key outcome variables comparisons were made to examine variations based on socio-demographic factors, employing suitable statistical tests. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using Atlas.ti 7.1.5.
The prevalence of SBCC exposure was 88.8%. The intervention had a more significant impact on improving knowledge and preventive practices related to Onchocerciasis (OC) compared to Soil-transmitted helminthes (STH). Specifically, most OC outcomes showed moderate to large effect sizes. In contrast, the effect on STH was more limited, with only knowledge of consequences improving moderately and preventive practices showing a small effect size. The mean score for OC preventive practices varied by educational level and sex, while the median score for STH perception varied among educational level and marital status. Additionally, score variation was observed across districts for all key outcome variables.
The majority of the population was exposed to SBCC resulting in improvements in knowledge, perception, and preventive behaviors regarding OC and knowledge of consequences of STH and its prevention behavior. This highlights the importance of incorporating well-designed SBCC activities in to MDA campaigns to optimize the control and eventual elimination of targeted NTDs.
尽管开展了包括大规模药物驱虫（MDA）在内的防控工作，但被忽视的热带病（NTDs）仍然对公共卫生构成重大威胁，在埃塞俄比亚农村地区尤为如此。将社会和行为改变沟通（SBCC）纳入MDA对于取得成功至关重要。本研究旨在评估纳入MDA活动中的针对性SBCC的有效性，以增强埃塞俄比亚吉马地区社区对目标NTDs的知识、认知和预防行为。
采用基于社区的前后测设计进行研究。调查采用多阶段抽样技术，定性研究则采用目的抽样。实施了针对当地需求的SBCC干预措施。使用科恩d值评估知识、认知和行为的变化。此外，对关键结果变量进行评分比较，以使用适当的统计检验来检查基于社会人口学因素的差异。使用Atlas.ti 7.1.5对定性数据进行主题分析。
SBCC的接触率为88.8%。与土壤传播的蠕虫（STH）相比，该干预措施对改善与盘尾丝虫病（OC）相关的知识和预防行为有更显著的影响。具体而言，大多数OC结果显示出中等至较大的效应量。相比之下，对STH的影响较为有限，只有对后果的认知有适度改善，预防行为的效应量较小。OC预防行为的平均得分因教育程度和性别而异，而STH认知的中位数得分在教育程度和婚姻状况之间存在差异。此外，所有关键结果变量在各地区之间均观察到得分差异。
大多数人群接触到了SBCC，从而改善了对OC的知识、认知和预防行为，以及对STH后果的认知及其预防行为。这凸显了将精心设计的SBCC活动纳入MDA活动以优化目标NTDs的控制和最终消除的重要性。
