02297nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001653001300042653001300055653003100068653003800099653001600137653000900153653001100162653001100173653001400184653001700198653002300215653002600238653001000264100001400274700001400288700001300302700001100315700001400326700001300340700001200353245008400365300001100449490000700460520146600467022001401933       2005                            d10aTrachoma10aTanzania10aSurveys and Questionnaires10aPatient Acceptance of Health Care10aMiddle Aged10aMale10aHumans10aFemale10aBlindness10aAzithromycin10aAttitude to Health10aAnti-Bacterial Agents10aAdult1 aDesmond N1 aSolomon A1 aMassae P1 aLema N1 aAnemona A1 aFoster A1 aMabey D00aAcceptability of azithromycin for the control of trachoma in Northern Tanzania.  a656-630 v993 a<p>Trachoma causes blindness; the prevention strategy includes mass antibiotic treatment. In a community in Northern Tanzania offered mass treatment with azithromycin for the control of trachoma, we used focus group discussions, individual interviews, questionnaires and direct observation to quantify, explore and contextualize reasons for acceptance or refusal of the drug. In the village studied, 76% of the population eligible to receive azithromycin were treated. Uptake was significantly higher among women (79% treated) than men (72%). Factors affecting acceptability included: local prevention norms (such as the belief that injections, rather than oral medicine, should be used for prevention); perceptions of drugs in general and azithromycin in particular; perceptions of the distribution team's expertise; witnessing adverse effects in others; and the timing, quality and quantity of information about azithromycin and its availability. Familiarity with trachoma as a blinding disease was significantly associated with uptake. Individuals who refused treatment seemed to be less altruistic than other respondents. Neither socio-economic status nor use of traditional healers was related to uptake. Pre-distribution community assessment and community education, advance notice of the distribution, standardized distribution guidelines and improved distributor training are recommended to maximize acceptance of azithromycin in future campaigns.</p>
  a0035-9203