An Operational Research on Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) For Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Medak District, Telangana

Background: Lymphatic filariasis caused by nematode parasite is a public health problem in India. Filariasis in man manifests as acute and chronic lymphangitis, elephantiasis of genitalia arms, legs, hydrocele in males and lymphadenitis. The Government of India incorporated initial National Filaria Control Programme under the National Vector Born Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) with a goal of eliminating the disease as Public Health Problem by targeted date of year 2016. Aim: Aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that reducing “MICRO FILARAEMIA” in humans to <1% will stop transmission by mass administration of two drug for more than 5 Annual rounds with 65% coverage of total population. Materials and methods: The study was retrospective prospective analytical study from 2010 to 2014 (from coverage evaluation reports) of Medak dist. There is need to enhance community participation to cover more than 65% of total population for future 5 years. Results: The distribution of the drugs was carried to 68% of rural population and 18% of urban population. The effectiveness was only 57.7% of rural and 16% of urban population. The drug compliance was 81% in rural and 87% in urban respectively. The coverage of the population for MDA by using DEC plus Albendazole tabs was 74.7% and 15.3% in rural and urban areas of Medak district respectively. But the actual effectiveness was observed 68% in rural and 15.3 % of urban population. However the drug compliance was found 91% of total population. 79.3% of respondents were aware of MDA trough banners / posters only. All other available Medias were found to be non-functional. Conclusion: MDA coverage was more in rural population in comparison with urban population. Major reasons for noncompliance having some underlying disease (40%), fear of side effects (18%) which can be overcome by intensification of IEC activities. In order to achieve the goal of elimination of lymphatic filariasis there is need to intensify IEC activates about modes of transmission and methods of prevention at community levels by all modes of communication so as increase the coverage with drugs.