Assessment of Mass Drug Administration activities for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Lymphatic Filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis is a painful and profoundly disfiguring

disease that has a major social and economic impact. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme for the

elimination Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) has been implemented globally since 1997 and the MDA campaign

launched in India during 2004 to interrupt the transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis

Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from 13th to16th June, 2019 in

Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. The three rural and one urban area of Vizianagaram district were

selected using multistage cluster sampling technique Clusters of 30 houses from one village of each PHC

and one ward of urban area with a total of 120 households were selected for the study.

Results: A total of 120 households covering 456 population were surveyed out of which 47.1% were male

and rest 52.9 % were females. Overall drug distribution coverage is 94% and effective coverage rate is 88%.

Conclusions: There is a pressing need to promote operational research on possible transmission from nearby

districts and confirmatory mapping of uncertain areas. Further qualitative comprehensive studies with more

diverse participants are needed to ascertain the causal relationship.