GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

This study was to assess the effects of lymphatic filariasis on human health: an empirical survey of the preventive and treatment measures of the disease among adults in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area. The research design adopted for the study was a descriptive survey design. The study area was Eastern Obolo with its headquarters at Okoroete. The population for the study is 75,000 adults comprising 36,600 males and 38,400 females representing 48.8 percent males and 51.2 percent females respectively. The target population for this study was all adults of both sexes of about 20 years and above in Emereoke and Okoroete community of Eastern Obolo. Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A stratified random sampling method was used to sample out the subset of population A and B which represent the two communities in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents was the sample size for the study. The main instrument used for data collection was the structured questionnaire captioned lymphatic filariasis and Human Health Questionnaire (LFHHQ). Data were collated, coded, entered and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS version 2.0) SPSS was used because; it was fast and flexible and provides more accurate analysis resulting in dependable conclusions. Based on the findings, it was concluded that effects of the disease were equally identified by the respondents which included mark, financial burden and loss of efficiency. Based on the findings, one of the recommendations was that government should develop a policy for filariasis endemic zone to test every patient who present with malaria bite and symptom for lymphatic filariasis. The testing facilities should also be expanded to include health centres and the dispensary level to reduce cases of delayed diagnosis in the area.

KEYWORDS: Lymphatic filariasis, health of individuals, preventive measures, Health Belief Model (HBM), Epidemiology, Treatment and Control