Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions (KAP) of onchocerciasis: A survey among residents in an endemic area in Guatemala targeted for mass chemotherapy with ivermectin

If ivermectin distribution programs are to have maximum impact on the morbidity and transmission of human onchocerciasis there must be broad and sustained acceptance within the endemic communities. Educational activities, developed with careful consideration of community attitudes, should promote positive treatment seeking behavior while simultaneously addressing local reservations about the control effort. To better understand the ambient knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning onchocerciasis in the context of ivermectin use in Guatemala, we conducted a survey among 145 heads of households in five endemic communities. Given the country's long-standing nodulectomy program, it was not surprising that 100% of persons interviewed had heard of the disease 'la filaria', which they defined as a skin nodule that could cause blindness. Ninety-five percent of respondents identified surgery as the only cure for the condition. Relatively few (39%) knew that la filaria was caused by a worm, although slightly more (50%) knew that the condition was acquired by the bite of an insect. The term microfilaria was not broadly recognized. We also determined that onchocerciasis was not perceived as a serious health problem: few persons (12%) mentioned la filaria when requested to provide a complete list of illnesses that occurred in the community, and the gravity of infection (based on rank ordering of common illnesses) was similar to that of a bad cold. Recommendations were made which might assist long-term acceptance of a national chemotherapy initiative against onchocerciasis in Guatemala.