Coverage Validation survey for lymphatic filariasis treatment in Itang special district of Gambella regional state of Ethiopia; Cross sectional study
Abstract Background Coverage validation survey provides a more precise estimate of preventive chemotherapy coverage and avoids the biases, as well as some of the errors that can affect reported coverage. This coverage validation survey was done to know the difference between the reported coverage from district of Itang special for Ivermectin and Albendazole given for Lymphatic Filariasis with the actual coverage in the selected district. Methods Itang special district from Gambella region was purposively selected for lymphatic filariasis treatment coverage survey. The survey was done by using segments from each district whereby 30 segments were selected from the district. The name of the kebeles and the segments where the survey was carried out were selected by using random selection method. After getting the total number of households in each selected kebele from the village chief the number of segments to be visited was computed by dividing the number of households to 50 and 16 households were visited from each segment and eligible individuals aged 5 and above were interviewed. Data for variables related to coverage of the IVM plus ALB were collected using Survey CTO software. Location of each household and the kebele chief office was recorded by using Global positioning system. Information about the kebele including population size, number of households in the kebele, last dates of mass drug administration were gathered primarily from village chiefs when available and headmasters and health extension workers when unavailable. Results The coverage validation survey result shows that the coverage for lymphatic Filariasis treatment was 81.5% in Itang special district of Gambella regional state. From 825 individuals that reported that they were offered the treatment 823(99.6%) swallowed the drug. The main reason for not being offered ivermectin and Albendazole during the mass drug administration campaigns because they were missing class during those dates (37.2%). Conclusion The data collected from Itang special woreda of Gambella Region shows that the treatment coverage is higher than the recommended coverage of 65% of the target population should be treated. Different factors play a role for this achievement including using different treatment sites such as schools, community centers and home to home by using health development armies for those children not attending schools and for nomadic communities such as the one in Gambella Regional state. Keywords Lymphatic Filariasis, Ivermectin, Albendazole, Coverage