MDA Program against lymphatic filariasis: Are we on the path to success? Experience from Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka

Context: Lymphatic filariasis or elephantiasis a serious public health problem in India. Millennium Development Goals and National Health Policies purport to eliminate filariasis by 2015. The concept of mass drug administration (MDA) is to approach every individual in the target community and administer annual single dose of anti-filarial drugs (DEC or DEC+Albendazole). Aims: 1. Assess the coverage and compliance to MDA in the district. 2. Assess the awareness of elephantiasis among beneficiaries. 3. Assess the knowledge of drug distributors about filariasis and the MDA program. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in one urban and three rural clusters in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka for the period of one week. A total of 50 houses were selected in each cluster by systematic random sampling method and data were collected in a structured proforma by interview technique. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Results: Among 1,022 beneficiaries, the overall coverage of MDA was 82.3%. Compliance among those who had received the tablets was 52.1%. Effective coverage rate was 42.9%. The compliance rate was significantly higher in rural areas [376 (58.6%)] compared to urban areas [62 (31.0%)]. The most common reason quoted for not consuming drugs was “Don’t want” (50.4%). A total of 56% of the respondents were aware of the elephantiasis disease and MDA program. Conclusions: Even though there was high coverage of MDA in Uttara Kannada district, compliance and effective coverage rates were found to be poor.