Evaluation of Mass Drug Administration for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka

ABSTRACT

Backgroundand Aims: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is the most debilitating and disfiguring among all diseases. The National HealthPolicy (2002) had set the goal of elimination of LF in India by 2015. The concept of mass drug administration (MDA) is to approachevery individual in the target community and administer an annual single dose of antifilarial drugs (diethylcarbamazine andalbendazole).Objectives: The objectives of this study were (1) to find the coverage and compliance of MDA at Dakshina Kannada district and (2) toassess the knowledge of responsible adult respondent regarding elephantiasis/filariasis and MDA program.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted to evaluate the coverage and compliance of MDA in Dakshina KannadaDistrict which was held on January 23, 2012. The evaluation was conducted for 1 week by a team of investigators. A total of 232 houseswere visited randomly in four clusters (1 in urban + 3 in rural area) covering of 982 beneficiaries between the age group of 2 and 60 yearsof age in pre-designed and semi-structured pro forma.Results: The coverage of MDA was 84%, and compliance among those who received the tablets was 80.24%. There was marginallybetter coverage in urban areas (89.27%) compared to rural area (82.41%), and compliance was better in rural areas (87.94%) comparedto urban area (63.18%). The coverage compliance gap which shows why people do not consume the tablet was 3.74%, and the effectivecoverage rate was 67.41%. The coverage was maximum, i.e., 91.3% in Kalladka (cluster 3) and minimum, i.e., 76.21% in Koila (cluster 2),whereas compliance was maximum, i.e., 90.73% in Koila (cluster 2) and minimum, i.e., 63.18% in Attavara (cluster 1).Conclusion: The coverage and compliance rate in Dakshina Kannada district were 84.01% and 80.24%, respectively, with effectivecoverage rate of 67.41%. Awareness regarding MDA program was poor