02851nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001200054653002300066653002500089653002300114653002900137653003200166100002100198700001300219700001200232700001400244700001300258700001300271700001500284700001400299700001300313245013400326856006600460300000900526490000600535520198200541022001402523       2024                            d  c05/202410aNigeria10aSub-Saharan Africa10aCommunity engagement10acommunity feedback10aMass drug administration10aNeglected Tropical Diseases1 aAmanyi-Enegela J1 aBadaki J1 aAlege G1 aOkunade F1 aKumbur J1 aIshaya R1 aAshikeni D1 aQureshi M1 aSankar G00aCommunity Feedback on Mass Medicines Administration for Neglected Tropical Diseases in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/6/126/pdf?version=1717117615  a1-130 v93 a<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of annual mass drug administration (MDA) as the strategy for controlling and eliminating the five preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs). The success of MDAs hinges on community acceptance, active participation, and compliance. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of community members, to obtain a more thorough understanding of their openness and willingness to participate in MDA and other NTD elimination activities. A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods for comprehensive data collection. Eighteen key informant interviews (KIIs) and sixteen focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to explore community engagement, participation, medication utilization, and programme perception. Triangulation of findings from interviews and discussions with household survey results was performed to gain a deeper understanding of emerging themes. The household survey involved interviewing 1220 individuals (Abaji: 687; Bwari: 533). Audio tapes recorded KIIs and FGDs, with interview transcripts coded using Nvivo 12.0 software based on predefined themes. Descriptive analysis using SPSS version 21 was applied to quantitative data. Results indicated high awareness of mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns in both area councils (Abaji: 84.9%; Bwari: 82.9%), with a small percentage claiming ignorance (15.1%), attributed to lack of information or absence during health campaigns. Respondents primarily participated by taking medication (82.5%), with minimal involvement in other MDA campaigns. Perception of medicines was generally positive, with a significant association between participation level and performance rating ( &lt; 0.05). The study recommends leveraging high awareness and community responsiveness to enhance engagement in various MDA activities, ensuring sustainability and ownership of the programme.</p>
  a2414-6366