Aa. Gbakima, INTEGRATED CONTROL OF ONCHOCERCA-VOLVULUS INFECTION IN A HYPERENDEMICZONE IN SIERRA-LEONE, East African medical journal, 73(3), 1996, pp. 159-163
A simplified integrated method of onchocerciasis control involving mas
s chemotherapy with ivermectin, nodulectomy and health education was c
arried out in south central Sierra Leone. The prevalence of Onchocerca
volvulus in the village community ranged from a low of 7.4% among the
International School children to a high of 97.0% in Gbessebu. There w
as a significant (3-4%) overall reduction in the rate of infection aft
er one year of ivermectin treatment (G=2565.97, df=11, P<0.001). In ad
dition, ivermectin treatment had a significant effect on the college c
ommunity (G=1168.21, df=5, P<0.001) and from year to year (0=187.29, d
f=1, P<0.001), though the effect indicates the reduction varied betwee
n communities. Mass ivermectin treatment significantly (G=13.79, df=1,
P<0.005) reduced the rate of infection among school children, while t
he prevalence and intensity of infection was reduced by nodulectomy. H
ealth education involving the community gave us an entry point and all
owed us to gain the maximum cooperation and participation from the com
munities.