AUTHOR=Mogaji Hammed O. , Okoh Hilary I. , Lawal Abiodun M. , Ojo Kayode H. , Marcus Ayodele J. , Aaron Nwana O. , Adeleye Damilola R. , Olamiju Francisca O. , Ekpo Uwem F. 

TITLE=A Post-Lockdown Assessment of Albendazole Treatment Coverage in Mass Drug Administration Campaigns Implemented Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605510

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605510

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> This study assessed the coverage of albendazole (ALB) in mass drug administration (MDA) programs implemented before (2019) and during the (2020 and 2021) COVID-19 pandemic in Ekiti State, Nigeria.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Standardized questionnaires were administered to 1,127 children across three peri-urban communities to ascertain if they received and swallowed ALB across the years. Reasons, why ALB was not received, were documented and analyzed in SPSS. 20.0.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> In 2019, the medicine reach was between 42.2%–57.8%, however, during the pandemic, the reach significantly reduced to 12.3%–18.6%, and increased to 28.5%–35.2% in 2021 (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.000). About 19.6%–27.2% of the participants have missed 1 MDA, while 26.9%–37.8% and 22.4%–32.8% have missed 2 and 3 MDAs, respectively. The majority who did not receive ALB (60.8%–75%) claimed drug distributors never came, while about 14.9%–20.3% mentioned they did not hear about MDA. However, individual compliance towards swallowing was above 94% across the study years (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.00).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> These results highlight the need to explore the perceptions of those who have consistently missed MDAs, and also understand the health-system-related issues including those imposed by the pandemic affecting MDA.</p>