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Exposure Factors Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Loima Sub-County of Turkana County, Kenya

Received: 30 November 2016     Accepted: 24 December 2016     Published: 8 November 2017
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Abstract

Background: Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) is a serious disease caused by species of the parasitic protists Leishmania. It can affect humans living in parts of the tropics and sub-tropics and is transmitted by Phlebotomus sandflies. It is classified as a neglected disease yet it is a public health problem, a debilitating disease causing an estimated 500,000 new cases each year, and a tenth of these patients will die in the predisposed areas. Objective: To assess the exposure factors associated with kala-azar in Loima sub-county of Turkana County, Kenya. Methods: Descriptive cross- sectional research design was employed and the study was conducted between October, 2015 and June, 2016. Cluster random sampling technique was used to identify study subjects in the purposively selected Loima Sub-county. A sample size of 341 respondents who were household heads or adult members and health facility workers were randomly sampled. Data collection was done using pretested structured questionaires, interviews, focus group discussions and observations; entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 for analysis. Presentation of data was done using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Results: The key exposure factors to the disease in the community include: Age, gender, educational level, socio-economic status, housing, presence of large amount of termite mounds all over the area 60.1%(n=205),inaccessibility to health services, varying health-seeking behaviour and lack of proper knowledge on transmission of disease. Also, human activities such as deforestation and hunting 52%(n=32), resting or sitting near termite mounds 70%(n=191) and dancing at night (Edong’a -64.8%(n=167), when the sand flies are active. There was a significant association between age ((OR=0.7; 95%CI= (0.4-1.1), p=0.135) and exposure to kala-azar, gender (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.4-0.9), p=0.012),education level (OR=1.2; 95%CI= (0.1-1.4), p=0.0501)), housing (OR=1.8; 95%CI= (1.0-3.1), p=0.029 ),presence of large amount of termite mounds (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.2-2.0), p=0.0045) and resting or sitting near termite-mounds (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.1-2.1), p=0.0043)).Conclusion: The study concludes that kala-azar is prevalent in the area and though the community is aware of its existence, the residents have different beliefs about transmission. The study recommends the need for enhanced general health education and awareness on the transmission cycle of kala-azar. Community empowerment and participation should be emphasized as well as structural development plans that include sand fly management strategies and control methods that would ensure the removal of breeding and resting sites of the vectors within human habitation. In addition, integrated disease surveillance and response to be implemented to avert the disease situation.

Published in American Journal of Laboratory Medicine (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16
Page(s) 144-155
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Visceral Leishmaniasis, Kala-Azar, Exposure, Loima, Kenya

References
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Cite This Article
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    Joseph Akutaa Lotukoi, Hellen Lydia Kutima, Christopher Anjili, Peter Wanzala. (2017). Exposure Factors Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Loima Sub-County of Turkana County, Kenya. American Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 2(6), 144-155. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16

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    ACS Style

    Joseph Akutaa Lotukoi; Hellen Lydia Kutima; Christopher Anjili; Peter Wanzala. Exposure Factors Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Loima Sub-County of Turkana County, Kenya. Am. J. Lab. Med. 2017, 2(6), 144-155. doi: 10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16

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    AMA Style

    Joseph Akutaa Lotukoi, Hellen Lydia Kutima, Christopher Anjili, Peter Wanzala. Exposure Factors Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Loima Sub-County of Turkana County, Kenya. Am J Lab Med. 2017;2(6):144-155. doi: 10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16,
      author = {Joseph Akutaa Lotukoi and Hellen Lydia Kutima and Christopher Anjili and Peter Wanzala},
      title = {Exposure Factors Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Loima Sub-County of Turkana County, Kenya},
      journal = {American Journal of Laboratory Medicine},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {144-155},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajlm.20170206.16},
      abstract = {Background: Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) is a serious disease caused by species of the parasitic protists Leishmania. It can affect humans living in parts of the tropics and sub-tropics and is transmitted by Phlebotomus sandflies. It is classified as a neglected disease yet it is a public health problem, a debilitating disease causing an estimated 500,000 new cases each year, and a tenth of these patients will die in the predisposed areas.  Objective: To assess the exposure factors associated with kala-azar in Loima sub-county of Turkana County, Kenya. Methods: Descriptive cross- sectional research design was employed and the study was conducted between October, 2015 and June, 2016. Cluster random sampling technique was used to identify study subjects in the purposively selected Loima Sub-county. A sample size of 341 respondents who were household heads or adult members and health facility workers were randomly sampled. Data collection was done using pretested structured questionaires, interviews, focus group discussions and observations; entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 for analysis. Presentation of data was done using both quantitative and qualitative approaches.  Results: The key exposure factors to the disease in the community include: Age, gender, educational level, socio-economic status, housing, presence of large amount of termite mounds all over the area 60.1%(n=205),inaccessibility to health services, varying health-seeking behaviour and lack of proper knowledge on transmission of disease. Also, human activities such as deforestation and hunting 52%(n=32), resting or sitting near termite mounds 70%(n=191) and dancing at night (Edong’a -64.8%(n=167), when the sand flies are active. There was a significant association between age ((OR=0.7; 95%CI= (0.4-1.1), p=0.135) and exposure to kala-azar, gender (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.4-0.9), p=0.012),education level (OR=1.2; 95%CI= (0.1-1.4), p=0.0501)), housing (OR=1.8; 95%CI= (1.0-3.1), p=0.029 ),presence of large amount of termite mounds (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.2-2.0), p=0.0045) and resting or sitting near termite-mounds (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.1-2.1), p=0.0043)).Conclusion: The study concludes that kala-azar is prevalent in the area and though the community is aware of its existence, the residents have different beliefs about transmission. The study recommends the need for enhanced general health education and awareness on the transmission cycle of kala-azar. Community empowerment and participation should be emphasized as well as structural development plans that include sand fly management strategies and control methods that would ensure the removal of breeding and resting sites of the vectors within human habitation. In addition, integrated disease surveillance and response to be implemented to avert the disease situation.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Exposure Factors Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Loima Sub-County of Turkana County, Kenya
    AU  - Joseph Akutaa Lotukoi
    AU  - Hellen Lydia Kutima
    AU  - Christopher Anjili
    AU  - Peter Wanzala
    Y1  - 2017/11/08
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16
    T2  - American Journal of Laboratory Medicine
    JF  - American Journal of Laboratory Medicine
    JO  - American Journal of Laboratory Medicine
    SP  - 144
    EP  - 155
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-386X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajlm.20170206.16
    AB  - Background: Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) is a serious disease caused by species of the parasitic protists Leishmania. It can affect humans living in parts of the tropics and sub-tropics and is transmitted by Phlebotomus sandflies. It is classified as a neglected disease yet it is a public health problem, a debilitating disease causing an estimated 500,000 new cases each year, and a tenth of these patients will die in the predisposed areas.  Objective: To assess the exposure factors associated with kala-azar in Loima sub-county of Turkana County, Kenya. Methods: Descriptive cross- sectional research design was employed and the study was conducted between October, 2015 and June, 2016. Cluster random sampling technique was used to identify study subjects in the purposively selected Loima Sub-county. A sample size of 341 respondents who were household heads or adult members and health facility workers were randomly sampled. Data collection was done using pretested structured questionaires, interviews, focus group discussions and observations; entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 for analysis. Presentation of data was done using both quantitative and qualitative approaches.  Results: The key exposure factors to the disease in the community include: Age, gender, educational level, socio-economic status, housing, presence of large amount of termite mounds all over the area 60.1%(n=205),inaccessibility to health services, varying health-seeking behaviour and lack of proper knowledge on transmission of disease. Also, human activities such as deforestation and hunting 52%(n=32), resting or sitting near termite mounds 70%(n=191) and dancing at night (Edong’a -64.8%(n=167), when the sand flies are active. There was a significant association between age ((OR=0.7; 95%CI= (0.4-1.1), p=0.135) and exposure to kala-azar, gender (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.4-0.9), p=0.012),education level (OR=1.2; 95%CI= (0.1-1.4), p=0.0501)), housing (OR=1.8; 95%CI= (1.0-3.1), p=0.029 ),presence of large amount of termite mounds (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.2-2.0), p=0.0045) and resting or sitting near termite-mounds (OR=0.6; 95%CI= (0.1-2.1), p=0.0043)).Conclusion: The study concludes that kala-azar is prevalent in the area and though the community is aware of its existence, the residents have different beliefs about transmission. The study recommends the need for enhanced general health education and awareness on the transmission cycle of kala-azar. Community empowerment and participation should be emphasized as well as structural development plans that include sand fly management strategies and control methods that would ensure the removal of breeding and resting sites of the vectors within human habitation. In addition, integrated disease surveillance and response to be implemented to avert the disease situation.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University, Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Nairobi, Kenya

  • Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya

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