BURULI ULCER (ACHA ERE) INFECTION: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES AMONGST BURULI ULCER PATIENTS IN UZUAKOLI, BENDE LGA

Paschal Emeka Etusim, *Victor Ugochukwu Obisike and Josephine Oluchi Ekekwe

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium ulcerans causes a chronic, debiblitating necrotizing disease of the tissue and skin called Buruli ulcer. It leads to social stigmatization amongst its patients. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of leg ulcer and knowledge, attitude and practices of Buruli ulcer patients in Uzuakoli, Abia Nigeria. One and fifty (150) suspected leg ulcer patients were examined for Buruli ulcer using Zeihl-Nelson stain method and gram staining method to detect organisms present. Four different microorganisms were identified, out of the number analyzed, 18 (12.0%) comprising 6 (33.3%) males and 12 (66.6%) females were infected with Buruli ulcer. The females had the highest infection rate and were significant (p < 0.05). The infection rate was highest amongst patients of the age group 41 – 50years (66.6%) while those between age of 1 – 10years, 11 – 20years, 21 – 30years showed low infection rate though the age related prevalence was not significant statistically (P>0.05). Patients whose occupations were farming showed high infection rate of 4 (66.6%) while those who are civil servants showed low infection rate. There is need to create more awareness mainly via health education on the causes, prevention and control of Buruli ulcer.

Keywords: Buruli ulcer, Stigmatization, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices.