Demographic and socio-economic factors with implications for the control of lymphatic filariasis in Kwale District, Kenya.

OBJECTIVE

To examine demographic and socio-economic factors with regard to control of lymphatic filariasis.

DESIGN

A cross sectional data collection approach using a questionnaire.

SETTING

Three adjacent villages, namely Lutsangani, Dzivani and Gandini in Kwale district. This was the study site for a larger KEMRI-JICA lymphatic filariasis control project. Findings from the larger project showed filariasis prevalence rates of 22.6%, 12.1% and 11.9% in the three villages respectively.

SUBJECTS: All 891 household-heads in the three villages.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relationship between selected factors (age, sex, education, employment status, availability of latrine and permanent roofing for the main dwelling) and current use of protection against mosquito bites.

RESULTS

Use of mosquito-bed nets, mosquito repellents and insecticides was found in 13.8% of the households. Education and employment status of the household-heads were positively associated with protection against man-vector contact (p < 0.001). Non-availability of latrines and lack of permanent roofing (tiles or corrugated iron sheets) for the main dwellings in 80% and 95% households, respectively, were additional clear indicators of low socio-economic development.

CONCLUSION

Given the inter-village variations in the prevalence of the filariasis, wide scale diagnosis for treatment control approach could be prohibitively expensive. Effective control of filariasis in this and similar communities may be by mass treatment with either diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin combined with albendazole.