Community's knowledge and perceptions about filarial elephantiasis and hydrocele in coastal Orissa, India

This study assesses people's knowledge and perceptions on transmission, prevention and eradication of elephantiasis and hydrocele, common manifestations of chronic lymphatic filariasis (LF). The assessment was done during mass drug administration (MDA) of the programme to eliminate LF in the State of Orissa, India. A household survey with pre-tested interview questionnaire was conducted in four LF endemic districts of Orissa state, India, where the MDA has been taken place. The sampling units (clusters of households) of the household survey are taken based on (1) urban/rural and (2) type of or absence of health facility. A total of 1,448 respondents were selected randomly. Majority of the respondents heard about elephantiasis and hydrocele. About one third of them know that mosquito bite is the cause of elephantiasis but very few people know about hydrocele. Around 50% of the respondent believed that elephantiasis could be cured completely, while almost 60% said that it could be totally removed from the community. But for hydrocele, more than 80% of respondents showed a positive approach for cure and nearly about 70% said that hydrocele could totally be eradicated from community. Various causes and methods of cure and prevention were suggested. Around 55% of respondents suggested that elephantiasis can be eradicated by taking medicine, but only 40% felt that hydrocele can be cured by taking medicine. Basic knowledge on LF is poor and relatively low proportion of people knows that LF can be eliminated by taking medicine. As there are plans to undertake further rounds of MDA in Orissa, people's knowledge has to be strengthened and perception and attitudes have to be addressed to achieve positive behavioural change, which eventually lead to higher compliance of MDA.