Evaluation of coverage and compliance of elimination of lymphatic filariasis by mass drug administration campaign in Gulbarga and Yadgiri districts of Karnataka state.

ABSTRACT

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection that occurs in many countries in the Globe including India. Single dose once yearly mass administration of Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) 6 mg/Kg and Albendazole 400 mg to all inhabitants of filariasis endemic areas excluding children <2 years, pregnant women and seriously ill patients is the recommended strategy for elimination of LF. The mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns are carried out by the Health Departments through door to door distribution of DEC and Albendazole tablets by drug distributing teams. The objective of this study was to evaluate the coverage, compliance, effective coverage and coverage compliance gap of MDA campaigns in Gulbarga and Yadgiri districts during the 10th and 11th MDA campaigns respectively. Methods: Cross sectional population based house to house visit. Outcomes were assessed as actual coverage, compliance and effective coverage in percentages and proportions. Results: 320 households from 8 clusters in 2 districts were covered. Among the 1653 eligible population the coverage rate is 93.42% in Gulbarga and 74.12% in Yadgiri district with inter cluster variation. The compliance rate is 86.35% in Gulbarga and 75.78% in Yadgiri district. The effective coverage rate is 80.67% in Gulbarga district and 56.17% in Yadgiri district. The coverage compliance gap is 13.65% in Gulbarga district and 24.22% in Yadgiri district. Conclusions: The effective coverage in both Gulbarga and Yadgiri districts is below the target (<85%) which is essential for progression towards elimination of LF. Side effects after drug consumption were minimal.