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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 2 | Page : 58-62 |
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Comparison of coverage and compliance of mass drug administration 2017 in urban & rural areas of Valsad district, Gujarat, India
Anupam Verma, Rachna Prasad, NB Patel, RK Bansal
Department of Community Medicine, Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education & Research, Surat, Gujarat, India
| Date of Web Publication | 31-Aug-2018 |
Correspondence Address:
Rachna Prasad
Department of Community Medicine, Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education & Research, Surat, Gujarat
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/2347-6486.240247
Context: Filariasis, an infectious tropical disease is a major public health problem in India but remains neglected. This study was conducted with an objective to evaluate and compare the coverage and compliance of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and associated factors in Urban and Rural areas of Valsad district, Gujarat, India.
Methods and materials: This cross sectional study involved survey of Valsad district covering 128 household. A pretested questionnare was used to collect data regarding administration of Diethyl Carbamazine (DEC) & Albendazole (ALB) to eligible population as a part of routine MDA activity. The data was analysed using Epi info software.
Results: The coverage of anti-filarial drug was 94.81% in urban & 100% in rural. The compliance rate, the effective coverage rates were 100% and Coverage Compliance Gap was zero in rural areas of district which were better than those in urban area of district.
Conclusion: The effective coverage rate after taking into account the coverage and compliance was more than the target of 85 percent which is needed for eradication and elimination of Filariasis. The rural areas of district had 100% effective coverage rate than urban areas of district. More emphasis must be given on spot consumption of the drug.
Keywords: Filaria, Mass Drug Administration, Coverage & Compliance
How to cite this article:
Verma A, Prasad R, Patel N B, Bansal R K. Comparison of coverage and compliance of mass drug administration 2017 in urban & rural areas of Valsad district, Gujarat, India. J Integr Health Sci 2017;5:58-62 |
How to cite this URL:
Verma A, Prasad R, Patel N B, Bansal R K. Comparison of coverage and compliance of mass drug administration 2017 in urban & rural areas of Valsad district, Gujarat, India. J Integr Health Sci [serial online] 2017 [cited 2023 Jun 10];5:58-62. Available from: https://www.jihs.in/text.asp?2017/5/2/58/240247 |
| Introduction | |  |
Filariasis is a neglected public health problem in India and its prevalence is next only to malaria among various vector borne diseases.[1],[2] In Gujarat state Valsad district is endemic for filariasis.[1] Our current strategy for control of filariasis is based on two key components: firstly, interrupting transmission through annual, mass drug administration (MDA) program implemented to cover the entire at-risk population; secondly, alleviating the suffering caused by lymphatic filariasis (LF) through morbidity management and disability prevention.[2]
The National Health Policy 2017 aims at elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2017.[3] through the strategy of annual MDA. In pursuance to achieve this, Government of India during 2004 initiated MDA with annual single dose of DEC tablets to all the population living at the risk of Filariasis.[4] MDA of DEC & Albendazole (ALB) was undertaken in Valsad district from 14th to 19 February 2017
The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the coverage compliance of MDA and factors associated with urban and rural areas of district Valsad of South Gujarat, India and to provide necessary recommendation based on the study findings.
| Methodology | | |
This cross sectional study evaluates coverage and compliance of MDA programme undertaken in urban and rural areas of District Valsad from 14th to 19th February 2017. As a part of MDA activity house to house visits were made by Drug Distributors (DDs) and DEC & ALB was administered to the eligible population which excluded children under 2 years, pregnant women and severely ill person.[7] The DDs have been instructed to persuade the eligible population to consume tablets on the spot and avoid taking tablet empty stomach.[7] Evaluation of MDA was carried out by the help of faculties of Community Medicine department of our college two weeks after completion of the MDA activity by the district health care system and this activity was completed in fifteen days. The selection of the four clusters in Valsad district for the evaluation of the MDA program through house hold surveys was as per NVBDCP guidelines.[7] The “Z” Test (Test of proportion) applied to know the significant difference between proportions of two independent groups
Selection of the Survey area: Four clusters were randomly selected using random number table from urban and rural, for the post MDA survey. The survey was done two weeks after the MDA program activity. The coverage as reported by the health care system was used to select these four clusters. Selection of cluster was done as per the criteria given in NVBDCP guidelines.[7] A total of 32 households (HHs) in each cluster were selected in such a way that the entire ward/village was represented. For this purpose, the area was divided into four quadrants, and in each quadrant, a central point was identified and the first house was selected randomly (any number between 1 and 9) and thereafter another seven Households (HHs) (total eight) serially (open with available family members) were covered. The exercise was repeated in other three quadrants. In fact this was an improvement over 30HHs suggested per cluster by NVBDCP for evaluation.
A total of 128 households from four clusters were selected. All data were collected by using predesigned and structured questionnaire. One individual from each house, preferably head of the family was interviewed after obtaining informed consent. If the head of the family was not present the elder most individual of the household were interviewed. The data was compiled and analysed by using Microsoft excel and Epi info.
| Results | | |
A total 128 households from 4 clusters were surveyed for MDA, from both the urban and rural areas. A total of 536 individuals out of 540 individuals selected could be covered. The coverage i.e. the population to which the drug is imparted is >94% and 100% of the eligible population for the urban and rural Valsad district respectively. Similarly the compliance rate and the effective coverage were significantly higher (p<0.05)(100%) in rural areas with a zero CCG [Table 1]. | Table 2: Various reasons of non coverage of eligible population by DDs in Urban & Rural Valsad
Click here to view |
Among the various reasons of non-coverage of eligible population by DD, the chief reason was people were missed by the drug distributor teams. While the other common reason was unavailability of the households at the time of house visit by DDs, while in the rural areas of Valsad no case of non compliance was observed.
The main reason for non compliance in urban areas (50) was the forgetfulness and the fact that respondents did not want to take these drugs.
| Discussion | | |
The concept of MDA is to approach every eligible individual in the target community and administer annual single dose of anti-filarial drugs (DEC+ALB). This annual dose is to be repeated every year for a period of 5 years or more aiming at minimum 85 % actual drug compliance. A high coverage (> 85%) is essential to achieve the interruption of transmission and elimination of disease in India.[7]
In our study we found that coverage & effective coverage rate was excellent in rural Valsad than in urban Valsad, similar to a study done by Kumar et al in 2006 in Gujarat which had reported that the effective coverage was marginally better in rural areas than urban areas.[5] Similar findings as regards coverage and compliance rates have been reported from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. [6],[8],[9] The higher coverage in rural areas than urban areas is ascribable mainly to the fact that the DDs are familiar with the people in the rural areas and in urban areas the team either missed some people or some people though present are not given drugs by the DDs. Similar results were found in study conducted by Nirgude et al with forgetfulness on the part of person accounting for 19% on non-compliant population.[9] The other common reason was that the respondents did not want to take these drugs (50%).
In order to be successful this coverage should be 85 percent or above. When our system could reach to an eligible person and hand over to him the dose of the drug, the person has to consume the drug and preferably in front of the distributor. Kumar P et al reported that the DD hardly insisted on supervised “on the spot” administration of drug.[5] This gap can be minimized by educating and motivating the community for taking the drug. Very high or even universal coverage will be of no use if the compliance is poor. Compliance to MDA largely depends on the approach of the drug distributor in implementation of MDA as per guidelines.[7]
The fear of side-effects was not a significant factor for non-compliance. According to study by Nirgude et al most common cause of non compliance to DEC was fear of side effects among the beneficiaries (47.51%).[9] Out of 524 persons who consumed DEC & Albendazole, no significant case of side effects (Giddiness, headache & pain in abdomen) were detected following consumption of DEC & Albendazole.
The effective coverage rate was lesser in Valsad urban than Valsad rural [Table 1]. This may be due to the fact that people in Valsad rural were more aware than those in Valsad urban.
Information Education Communication activity could help to bridge this knowledge gap and should be an important and very cost-effective tool to improve both coverage and compliance of MDA. Interviews had revealed that people could relate to this program as it was conducted last year also otherwise they were ignorant about the program and points out to the need for effective IEC. Most of the respondents opined that the electronic media should be the preferred way of creating awareness.
| Conclusions & Recommendations | | |
In Valsad Urban at many places DDs missed out the families without giving them drugs especially in high rise buildings. Preparation of good quality village/ward level micro-plan and ensuring that each DD will not cover more than 50 families a day will help to improve the coverage.[7] Also supportive supervision of the work of DDs by supervisors (MO,UHC/ PHC/Health Assistants) and independent external monitors during the house to house should be undertaken. There is a sheer need for more effective drug delivery strategies to be charted out as per locally in consultation with community leaders, school teachers and under close supervision by medical officer of concerned UHC. The effective coverage rate after taking into account the coverage and compliance was more than the targeted of 85 percent needed. Most of the people of covered areas had received DEC & ALB from DDs and consumed these on the spot possibly due to motivation from DDs and also interest of people to consume the given drugs. Supervised DEC & Albendazole intake was very good. An effort to increase “on the spot consumption” by DDs brought down the CCG considerably. Interviews of stake holders have revealed that Pre-MDA IEC needs to be undertaken in an appropriate manner. It should be extensive and should utilize all possible channels such as TV, cable, recorded messages and SMS (mobile and land line phones). It should be done just few days before the campaign for greater impact. Big celebrities, senior political leaders, administrators, religious leaders should be asked to endorse this program. Involvement of local level voluntary workers on payment basis should be helpful for success of future rounds of MDA. Extensive help of local area private practitioners needs to be taken especially for motivation of resistant community for significant reduction of CCG. The study highlights the need for strong program guidelines so as to curtail non- coverage of people and ensure drugs consumption in front of the DDs itself. Efforts need to be maximised to ensure the MDA program visibility to the general population.
| References | | |
| 1. | National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Lymphatic Filariasis.Magnitude of disease. Website: Available from:http://nvbdcp.gov.in/fil10.html. Accessed on 2012 August 13.  |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Lymphatic Filariasis. Upscaling of mass drug administration. Website: Available from: http://nvbdcp.gov.in/filariasis-new.htmlhttp. Accessed on 2012 August 13. |
| 5. | Kumar Pradeep, Prajapati PB, Saxena Deepak, Kavishwar B Abhay, George Kurian. An evaluation of coverage and compliance of Mass Drug Administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in endemic areas of Gujarat. Indian Journal of Community Medicine 2008; 33: 38-42. |
| 6. | Karamkar P Ray, K Mitra, Chatterjee Anirban, PK jana, Bhattacharya S, Lahiri SK. A study on coverage, compliance and awareness about Mass Drug Administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in a district of West Bengal, India. J Vector Borne Dis 2011;48:101-4. |
| 7. | |
| 8. | ICMR. Prospects of eliminating lymphatic filariasis in India. ICMR Bulletin 2002; 32: 1-14 |
| 9. | Nirgude Abhay S., Naik Poonam R., Kondagunta Nagaraj , Reshmi Sidramappa S., Takalkar Anant A., Prasad VG. Evaluation of coverage and compliance of Mass Drug Administration Programme 2011 for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh, INDIA , National Journal of Community Medicine vol 3 issue 2 April June 2012; p. 288-293. |
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]
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