Introduction
Mass Drug Administration (MDA) is among the five major strategies that are currently in use to control, eliminate, or eradicate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Optimizing Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to control multiple NTDs maximizes impact. The objective of this study is to estimate the secondary impact of ivermectin MDA for onchocerciasis on the prevalence of scabies.
Methods
This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Ayu Guagusa district, northern-western Ethiopia. Scabies prevalence was estimated in surveys before the MDA, at 6 and 12-months afterwards. The sample size was 1437 people from a panel of 381 randomly selected study households. Multistage sampling was employed in randomly selecting six kebeles (the lowest administrative unit) with respective gotes (small villages) and households. All members of the selected households were invited to participate in the study and participants who were available in all three surveys formed a cohort. Health care workers from a nearby hospital diagnosed scabies cases.
Results
Scabies prevalence was similar prior to the MDA (13.4%, 95% CI: 11.7%-15.2%) and 6 months after (11.7%, 95% CI: 10.1%-13.2%) but was substantially greater at 12 months (22.1%, 95% CI: 20.1%-24.1%). The six-month incidence and disappearance rates were 10.8% (95% CI: 8.8%-13.2%) and 82.6% (95% CI: 75.0%-88.6%), respectively.
Conclusion
Ivermectin MDA for onchocerciasis did not have a significant secondary impact on the prevalence of scabies over 12 months follow-up period
