Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Lymphatic Filariasis among Coastal Adult Population of Pondicherry.

Background: The WHO has called for targeting filariasis elimination by 2020. India is the largest LF endemic country and has targeted the elimination of LF by 2015. Wuchereria bancrofti as a causative organism accounts for over 90% of the global burden. India contributes about 40% of the total global burden and accounts for about 50% of the people at the risk of infection. W. bancrofti is the predominant species accounting for about 98% of the national burden. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is an effective drug acting on the parasite and mass annual single dose community drug administration with selective vector control could result in effective elimination of infection by interruption of transmission. Thus knowledge about lymphatic filariasis and vectors were essential for elimination of this disease in the community. So this study was carried out to ascertain the knowledge, attitude and practices of Lymphatic Filariasis in the community. Material and Method: Cross sectional study was carried out (March-June,2011) in our field practice area of Kalapet, Pondicherry UT. Among 400 consenting population above 20 years with the help of semi structured and pretested questionnaire. Systematic random sampling method was used for selection of respondent in this community. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version. Results: Out of 400, 40.25% respondents were male and 59% respondents were female. Majority (68.5%) of the respondent age were more than 30 years. 79% of study population were educated. Majority of the study respondent were involving in fishing and labour. With respect knowledge more than half of the respondent. (53%) heard about lymphatic filariasis, only 35% of the study population knew about mode of transmission and 95% of the respondents were knew about any one method of prevention. More than half of the respondent knew that government had been taken some preventive measure to control curb the disease transmission. Conclusion: The study population did not have adequate knowledge about mode of transmission but their attitude and practices for prevention of lymphatic filarisis were satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]