Onchocerciasis in Kwara State, Nigeria: A 5-Year Analysis of Diagnosis, Prevalence, and Treatment

Abstract

This study is aimed at evaluating the occurrence of onchocerciasis, as it relates to its diagnoses, prevalence, and treatment among humans in the Local Governments Areas of Kwara State, Nigeria. A 5-year (2016–2020) record of the occurrences of onchocerciasis (consisted of information from the entire state, gender of individuals, diagnostic methods and treatment procedures) was collected from the Ministry of health, Kwara State, following consents from the appropriate authorities. The data was adequately analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). It was retrieved from the data that skin snip and subsequent microscopic examination was the method used for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis in Kwara State. Out of the 14,237,834 persons examined over the 5-year period, 11,190,935 were positive for onchocerciasis representing 78.60% of the sample population. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) in the prevalence of onchocerciasis between the different years and the different Local Government Areas. Females (with a prevalence of 81.29%) were 1.40 times (95% CI = 1.39 – 1.41) more likely to be infected with Onchocerca volvulus compared to males (having a prevalence of 75.68%) and the relationship was statistically significant (p = <0.001), with a chi square value of 66,580. The records also revealed that ivermectin (Mectizan™) was the drug used in the treatment of onchocerciasis in the State. This study revealed that Onchocerciasis is hyperendemic in Kwara State due to its high prevalence of 78.60%. The use of ivermectin in the treatment of onchocerciasis in Kwara State is adequate and will most likely bring about the eradication of the disease in the state in the nearest future. Inferences from this study to the general human population in Kwara State should be made with caution since humans tested for the disease were those suspected to be infected with O. volvulus.