03079nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653002400079653005700103100001200160700001200172700001400184700001500198700001500213700001300228700002400241700001200265700001300277700001200290245015600302856009900458300000900557490000700566520221400573022001402787       2023                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health1 aKumah E1 aOwusu P1 aOtchere G1 aAnkomah SE1 aFusheini A1 aKokuro C1 aMensah-Acheampong F1 aAtta JA1 aAgyei SK1 aWanji S00aFactors influencing community acceptability of mass drug administration for the elimination of onchocerciasis in the Asante Akim South Municipal, Ghana  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011251&type=printable  a1-140 v173 a<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Onchocerciasis is one of the eleven neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) recently targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for elimination. Mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin has become the main intervention for reducing the burden of onchocerciasis and controlling its transmission. However, despite the considerable gains in the fight against onchocerciasis in Ghana, the infection remains endemic in some communities. This study aimed to ascertain community members’ acceptability levels and factors associated with ivermectin MDA for the elimination of onchocerciasis in the Asante Akim South Municipal in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in six communities in the Asante Akim South Municipal from 7th May to 9th July, 2021. The study population comprised all persons aged 18 years and above who had lived in the study communities for more than three months prior to the study. The main outcome variable was the acceptability of ivermectin MDA by the community members. This was measured using a composite acceptability score adapted from the Intervention Rating Profile tool. The explanatory variables were the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated knowledge of onchocerciasis, perceived side effects of ivermectin, and self-reported level of education received on MDA activities.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 450 community members included in the study, 50.4% were male while 49.6% were female. The respondents’ mean age was 39.57±10.64 years. The mean acceptability score for ivermectin MDA was 20.52±2.91 (range, 9–36). Acceptability of ivermectin MDA was positively associated with gender, educational status, employment status, self-rated knowledge of onchocerciasis, and level of education received on MDA; and negatively associated with perceived side effect of ivermectin.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study provides valuable information to inform policy decisions on planning and implementing MDA programs for the elimination of onchocerciasis in the study area and the country as a whole.</p>
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