A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Attitude of Adults on Filariasis and Mass Drug Administration of Filariasis (MDA) in Selected Villages of Udupi District, Karnataka

Objective

To assess the knowledge and attitude of adults on Filariasis and Mass Drug Administration of Filariasis (MDA).

Methodology

A survey approach was adopted using descriptive survey design. The study was conducted in Udupi District with 400 participants. A convenience sampling technique was used. Demographic proforma was used to obtain background information. The knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge on filariasis and MDA. The knowledge level is arbitrarily classified as good (17–24), average(9–16) and poor(1–8). The attitude scale was used to assess the attitude of adults on filariasis and MDA was arbitrarily classified as favourable (67–110) and unfavourable (23–66) attitude. Frequency and percentage and Chi-square test were used for the analysis.

Results

Majority 43.5% (174) of the participants belongs to the age group of 18-30years. Majority 56% (224) of them belongs to primary and higher primary education. Family income of majority 42.2% (169) of the participants is Rs. 3000–6000 per month. Majority52.5% (210) of them were belongs to nuclear family. The majority 68.4% (273) of them were unemployed. Majority 44.1% (177) of them got health information from television. It was identified that majority of 63.2% (253) of the participants have average knowledge, 5.8% (23) good knowledge and 31% (124) have poor knowledge regarding filariasis and MDA. Among the participants, 349(87.2%) of them have favourable attitude and 51(12.8%) of participants have unfavorable attitude. The chi square statistics was computed between knowledge and selected demographic variables. There was significant association between age, education income, occupation and source of health information. But there was no significant association between type of family. Age and source of information has significant association with attitude. Education, type of family, monthly income and occupation has no association with attitude.

Conclusion

Majority of the participants were having average knowledge and favourable attitude towards Filariasis and Mass Drug Administration of Filariasis. (Thus creating awareness among general public to prevent the occurrence and disabling complications of Filariasis).