L. Jemaneh et S. Taticheff, DRACUNCULIASIS (GUINEA WORM DISEASE) IN THE BUME (NYANGATON) PEOPLE OF SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA, Ethiopian medical journal, 31(3), 1993, pp. 209-222
A village-to-village search for active dracunculiasis cases was carrie
d out in an endemic area of the Bume (Nyangaton) tribe of South Omo Re
gion, Ethiopia. A total of, 21 cases, of which 6, 5, and 10 had pre-em
ergent, emergent and complicated Guinea worm disease, respectively, we
re identified. Twenty-two worms, ranging from 1-3 per patient, were re
moved mainly from the lower limbs; worm appearance seems to be associa
ted more with the right limb. Adults between the ages of 20-30 years a
re highly affected and infection appears to be sex-related as 14121 (6
6. 7%) of the cases are females. Water procured from water-holes dug i
n dry river beds provides an ideal situation for the transmission of d
racunculiasis amongst the tribesmen. The knowledge, attitudes and perc
eptions of the Bume people towards the disease and the public health s
ignificance of dracunculiasis are discussed in relation to the current
goal of the national and global Guinea worm eradication programme.