EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF SKIN NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES IN MBAITOLI LGA IMO STATE

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate of knowledge and awareness of skin neglected tropical diseases in Mbaitoli LGA Imo State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select nine hundred (900) participants from Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on respondent´s socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and recognition of skin  NTDs. Data analysis were done using independent sample t-test, analysis of variance with p-value set at 0.05. Out of the 900 participants in the studied areas, 756 (72.88) claimed that stepping on charm is the major cause of  skin NTD while 968(63.27%) attributed the cause of  skin NTD infection to lack of personal hygyiene. 697(45.56%) believes skin NTDs are caused through sexual intercourse, 646(42.22%) believe it is caused by contaminated food, 464(30.33%) attributed it to fever, 379(24.77%) claimed it is caused by working in the sun while 354(23.14%) believed it is caused by Drinking untreated water. This study has helped quantify the information gaps that need to be addressed in order to create demand for integrated skin NTDs services in an endemic setting in Mbaitoli and Nigeria at large.