Knowledge of participants on onchocerciasis.

BackgroundPreliminary assessments have identified blackfly biting activity at Erin-Ijesha and Arinta waterfalls in Southwest Nigeria, predisposing first-line communities to a high risk of onchocerciasis. There is a need to assess knowledge of blackflies, onchocerciasis, and participation in treatment programs among residents of first-line communities near the waterfalls to evaluate onchocerciasis transmission risk.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 236 residents at Erin-Ijesha and Ipole-Iloro, two first-line communities using structured questionnaires. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21. Relationships between variables were analyzed using t-test and chi-square, with a 95% confidence interval.ResultsMajority (73.3%) in Erin-Ijesha and (83.7%) in Ipole-Iloro reported knowledge of blackflies, with 83.3% and 87.0% aware of onchocerciasis, respectively. The majority of participants had no knowledge of how onchocerciasis is transmitted, with only 8.7% and 10.5% in Erin-Ijesha and Ipole-Iloro, respectively, linking the disease to blackfly bites. Ivermectin uptake was relatively high at 75.7% and 76.7% in Erin-Ijesha and Ipole-Iloro, respectively. Willingness to participate in future treatment programs was lower, at 64.7% and 64.0% in Erin-Ijesha and Ipole-Iloro, respectively. Level of education significantly influenced willingness to participate in future mass distribution of ivermectin (p ConclusionThe limited understanding of blackfly bioecology and onchocerciasis among residents may lead to increased exposure to bites, thereby raising the risk of transmission. To address this, the federal and state ministries of health, along with treatment implementing partners, should enhance sensitization efforts and public health education during the annual Mass Drug Administration campaigns. Improving knowledge in these high-risk communities will encourage residents to take preventive measures against bites and improve treatment uptake, ultimately reducing the risk of disease transmission.【背景】初步评估显示，尼日利亚西南部的埃林-伊杰沙瀑布（Erin-Ijesha）与阿里恩塔瀑布（Arinta）存在黑蝇（blackfly）叮咬活动，致使毗邻瀑布的一线社区面临极高的盘尾丝虫病（onchocerciasis，又称河盲症）感染风险。为评估盘尾丝虫病的传播风险，亟需针对上述瀑布周边一线社区的居民，开展关于黑蝇、盘尾丝虫病的认知情况及治疗项目参与度的调查。 【方法】本研究针对埃林-伊杰沙与伊波勒-伊洛罗这两个一线社区的236名居民，采用结构化问卷开展横断面调查。数据录入至微软Excel（Microsoft Excel）后，使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）21.0版本进行统计分析。变量间的关联分析采用t检验与卡方检验，置信区间设置为95%。 【结果】埃林-伊杰沙社区有73.3%的受访者表示了解黑蝇，伊波勒-伊洛罗社区这一比例为83.7%；两地分别有83.3%与87.0%的受访者知晓盘尾丝虫病。多数受访者并不了解盘尾丝虫病的传播途径，仅埃林-伊杰沙社区8.7%、伊波勒-伊洛罗社区10.5%的受访者将该疾病与黑蝇叮咬相关联。伊维菌素（ivermectin）的服用率相对较高，埃林-伊杰沙与伊波勒-伊洛罗社区分别为75.7%与76.7%。而参与未来治疗项目的意愿相对较低，两地占比分别为64.7%与64.0%。受教育水平对参与未来伊维菌素大规模投放项目的意愿存在显著影响（p 【结论】居民对黑蝇的生物生态学特性及盘尾丝虫病的认知不足，可能会增加其被叮咬的概率，进而提升疾病传播风险。为此，联邦与各州卫生部及治疗项目执行伙伴应在年度大规模药物给药（Mass Drug Administration）活动期间，加强宣传教育与公共卫生科普工作。提升高风险社区居民的认知水平，将有助于鼓励居民采取防叮咬预防措施、提高治疗参与率，最终降低疾病传播风险。