Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda
Neglected tropical diseases are known to be highly stigmatized conditions. This study investigates tungiasis-related stigma and control practices in the impoverished Napak District in rural northeastern Uganda, where tungiasis is hyperendemic and effective treatment is unavailable. We conducted a qu...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/4/206 |
| _version_ | 1797603298976464896 |
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| author | Hannah McNeilly Marlene Thielecke Francis Mutebi Mike Banalyaki Felix Reichert Susanne Wiese Hermann Feldmeier |
| author_facet | Hannah McNeilly Marlene Thielecke Francis Mutebi Mike Banalyaki Felix Reichert Susanne Wiese Hermann Feldmeier |
| author_sort | Hannah McNeilly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neglected tropical diseases are known to be highly stigmatized conditions. This study investigates tungiasis-related stigma and control practices in the impoverished Napak District in rural northeastern Uganda, where tungiasis is hyperendemic and effective treatment is unavailable. We conducted a questionnaire survey with the main household caretakers (<i>n</i> = 1329) in 17 villages and examined them for tungiasis. The prevalence of tungiasis among our respondents was 61.0%. Questionnaire responses showed that tungiasis was perceived as a potentially serious and debilitating condition and that tungiasis-related stigma and embarrassment were common. Among the respondents, 42.0% expressed judging attitudes, associating tungiasis with laziness, carelessness, and dirtiness, and 36.3% showed compassionate attitudes towards people with tungiasis. Questionnaire responses further indicated that people made an effort to keep their feet and house floors clean (important tungiasis prevention measures), but lack of water was a common problem in the area. The most frequent local treatment practices were hazardous manual extraction of sand fleas with sharp instruments and application of various and sometimes toxic substances. Reliable access to safe and effective treatment and water are therefore key to reducing the need for dangerous treatment attempts and breaking the vicious cycle of tungiasis stigma in this setting marked by poverty. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:28:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90b8f64b01e4493b8c0be94f25180e05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:28:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-90b8f64b01e4493b8c0be94f25180e052023-11-17T21:39:35ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662023-03-018420610.3390/tropicalmed8040206Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern UgandaHannah McNeilly0Marlene Thielecke1Francis Mutebi2Mike Banalyaki3Felix Reichert4Susanne Wiese5Hermann Feldmeier6Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UKCharité Center for Global Health, Institute of International Health, Charité University Medicine, 13353 Berlin, GermanySchool of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, UgandaInnovations for Tropical Disease Elimination (IFOTRODE), Kampala P.O. Box 24461, UgandaDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité University Medicine, 12203 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité University Medicine, 12203 Berlin, GermanyNeglected tropical diseases are known to be highly stigmatized conditions. This study investigates tungiasis-related stigma and control practices in the impoverished Napak District in rural northeastern Uganda, where tungiasis is hyperendemic and effective treatment is unavailable. We conducted a questionnaire survey with the main household caretakers (<i>n</i> = 1329) in 17 villages and examined them for tungiasis. The prevalence of tungiasis among our respondents was 61.0%. Questionnaire responses showed that tungiasis was perceived as a potentially serious and debilitating condition and that tungiasis-related stigma and embarrassment were common. Among the respondents, 42.0% expressed judging attitudes, associating tungiasis with laziness, carelessness, and dirtiness, and 36.3% showed compassionate attitudes towards people with tungiasis. Questionnaire responses further indicated that people made an effort to keep their feet and house floors clean (important tungiasis prevention measures), but lack of water was a common problem in the area. The most frequent local treatment practices were hazardous manual extraction of sand fleas with sharp instruments and application of various and sometimes toxic substances. Reliable access to safe and effective treatment and water are therefore key to reducing the need for dangerous treatment attempts and breaking the vicious cycle of tungiasis stigma in this setting marked by poverty.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/4/206tungiasisstigmaneglected tropical diseasescontrol practiceshygieneKAP |
| spellingShingle | Hannah McNeilly Marlene Thielecke Francis Mutebi Mike Banalyaki Felix Reichert Susanne Wiese Hermann Feldmeier Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease tungiasis stigma neglected tropical diseases control practices hygiene KAP |
| title | Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda |
| title_full | Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda |
| title_short | Tungiasis Stigma and Control Practices in a Hyperendemic Region in Northeastern Uganda |
| title_sort | tungiasis stigma and control practices in a hyperendemic region in northeastern uganda |
| topic | tungiasis stigma neglected tropical diseases control practices hygiene KAP |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/4/206 |
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