PMID- 8600770
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19960429
LR  - 20190516
IS  - 0002-9637 (Print)
IS  - 0002-9637 (Linking)
VI  - 54
IP  - 3
DP  - 1996 Mar
TI  - A survey of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAPs) of lymphatic filariasis, 
      elephantiasis, and hydrocele among residents in an endemic area in Haiti.
PG  - 299-303
AB  - To assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about bancroftian filariasis, 104 
      residents of an endemic area in Haiti were interviewed. Questions focused on 1) 
      whether people understood the relationship between infection and disease, 2) 
      recognition of the role that mosquitoes play in transmission, 3) perceived 
      importance of hydrocele and elephantiasis in relation to other recognized 
      diseases, and 4) the willingness of the community to participate in a control 
      program. Fewer than 50% of residents had heard of filariasis and only 6% of those 
      surveyed knew that it was transmitted by mosquitoes. In contrast, all persons 
      knew of the clinical conditions of hydrocele and elephantiasis. Hydrocele was 
      thought to be caused by trauma (60%) or trapped gas (30%); elephantiasis by 
      walking bare foot on soil or water (37%) or by use of ceremonial powder that had 
      been sprinkled on the ground (23%). Of 76 respondents, 53% and 38% thought that 
      hydrocele could be treated through surgery or a drug, respectively, whereas 86 
      respondents, 85% and 15% believed that either surgery or a drug could be used to 
      treat elephantiasis. In this context, persons were not referring to a specific 
      drug; rather, they believed a drug existed (possibly in some other country) that 
      could cure these conditions. Hydrocele and elephantiasis ranked second to 
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as perceived health problems, most likely 
      because residents believed treatment for conditions such as malaria, intestinal 
      worms, anemia, and diarrhea was easily obtained. Responses were influenced by 
      age, sex, and symptoms, but none of these effects were statistically significant 
      except that persons with hydrocele or elephantiasis were more likely to have 
      sought treatment than persons without these conditions (P = 0.0006). The survey 
      results indicate that awareness of the causes of disease, the relationship 
      between infection and disease, and goals of treatment must be heightened through 
      community-based education campaigns to increase the possibility of acceptance and 
      support of control programs.
FAU - Eberhard, M L
AU  - Eberhard ML
AD  - Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers 
      for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
FAU - Walker, E M
AU  - Walker EM
FAU - Addiss, D G
AU  - Addiss DG
FAU - Lammie, P J
AU  - Lammie PJ
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Am J Trop Med Hyg
JT  - The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
JID - 0370507
SB  - IM
MH  - Adolescent
MH  - Adult
MH  - Aged
MH  - Aged, 80 and over
MH  - Elephantiasis/epidemiology/*psychology
MH  - Elephantiasis, Filarial/epidemiology/*psychology
MH  - Female
MH  - Haiti/epidemiology
MH  - *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Prevalence
MH  - Surveys and Questionnaires
MH  - Testicular Hydrocele/epidemiology/*psychology
EDAT- 1996/03/01 00:00
MHDA- 1996/03/01 00:01
CRDT- 1996/03/01 00:00
PHST- 1996/03/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1996/03/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1996/03/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.4269/ajtmh.1996.54.299 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1996 Mar;54(3):299-303. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1996.54.299.