Work

Risk factors for Lassa fever in endemic communities of Edo State, Nigeria

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Lassa fever is an acute febrile illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the family of Arenaviridae, whose natural hosts are rodents of the genus Mastomys. The community based descriptive cross sectional study set out to assess the prevalence of risk factors and serostatus to Lassa virus specific IgM and IgG antibodies in Lassa fever endemic communities in Esan West local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. Methods & Materials: The knowledge and risk practices on Lassa fever of four hundred and twenty one respondents selected by means of a multistage sampling technique was determined using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Their Lassa specific antibodies IgG and IgM were determined using ELISA. Results: One hundred and ninety three (76.6%) respondents had poor knowledge, and 18 (7.1%) good knowledge. Knowledge was significantly associated with level of education (p = 0.02). There was no association of knowledge with occupation (p = 0.67) and sex (p = 0.69). One hundred and ninety three (45.8%) respondents had high risk of rodent contact, 228 (54.2%) had low risk. Overall, 142 (33.7%) were at risk of disease from poor food hygiene practices, whereas the majority, 279 (66.3%) had low risk. IgM was found in 2(1.3%) respondents, and IgG, in 62 (35.0%). Sex (p = 0.09) and occupation (p = 0.21) were not found to have any statistically significant association with IgM status. IgG status was significantly associated with educational level (p = 0.025), age (p = 0.003) and marital status (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Transmission of Lassa virus is still largely due to low level of knowledge of the disease in these communities. Current awareness campaign strategy is not winning.There is need to seek for an effective method of Community health education such as mass production and distribution of information leaflets on lassa fever in the local language.

Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.958

Authors: E.A. Tobin, D. Asogun, C. Happi, E. Ogbaini, S. Gunther

Institutions: Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Viral Infections and Vectors

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,900