ABSTRACT
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a vector borne parasitic disease transmitted to humans by bites of infected tse-tse flies. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases that pose millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa at risk of contracting the disease and is earmarked for elimination by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2006, Nigeria was listed amongst endemic countries with transmission occurring in a known endemic focus of Delta State however, it had been difficult to assess whether transmission is occurring elsewhere in the country due to the lack of active surveillance in other parts of the country. Reports of nuisance and bites from tse-tse flies by residents of the grazing reserve and the dearth of literature on the prevalence of HAT in the grazing reserve led to the survey to determine the knowledge and prevalence of HAT among residents of Kachia grazing reserve. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling technique with probability proportionate to size. Respondents were administered structured questionnaire on socio demographic characteristics, knowledge and practices relating to HAT prevention and predisposition to risk factors for HAT infection by trained interviewers and then screened for HAT antibodies using card agglutination test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT). Knowledge of HAT was scored into 5 domains and categorized as poor knowledge (score 0-2) and good (score 3-5). Predisposition to risk of infection was defined as frequent exposure to ≥two known risk factors for HAT. A case of HAT was defined as any respondent that tested positive on CATT. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and logistic regression were used to analyse the data and significance was set at 0.05. The mean age of the 300 respondents that were sampled was 39Â�17years. One hundred and sixty-nine (56.3%) were males. Only 36(12.0%) had adequate knowledge on HAT and 120(40.0%) would seek medical help in a hospital if affected. Respondents exposed to risk factors were 229(76.3%). Common practices relating to HAT prevention among respondents included clearing of overgrown bushes around houses 297(99%), use of xv insecticidal treated nets and the use of protective clothing when visiting the bush 123 (41.0%). Male respondents Odds Ratio (OR) 5.0 (CI 1.8, 13.6), age of 40years and above OR 5.0 (CI 1.1, 24.4) and family history of HAT OR 8.7 (CI 2.4, 32.1) were factors associated with having good knowledge of HAT and practice of HAT prevention measures. None of the 300 respondents screened for HAT antibodies tested positive. The respondents? knowledge about HAT was poor despite lots of preventive measures being put in place to prevent exposure to the insect vector. Though infested by tse-tse flies, a zero prevalence of HAT was recorded in the grazing reserve. There is need for concerted efforts both at the national, state and local government levels to be put in place to control these vectors. Key Words: Human African Trypanosomiasis, Prevalence, Knowledge, Preventive practices.