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Table 5 Responses to questions about individuals’ perception of the mode of acquiring LF infection and lesions (n = 747)

From: Lymphatic filariasis control in Tanzania: infection, disease perceptions and drug uptake patterns in an endemic community after multiple rounds of mass drug administration

Response

No. (% of total)

Mode of acquiring LF infection

Mode of acquiring hydrocele

Mode of acquiring elephantiasis

Don’t know

418 (56.0)

417 (55.8)

398 (53.3)

Mosquito bite

295 (39.5)

280 (37.5)

312 (41.8)

Stepping on unclean mattera

9 (1.2)

13 (1.7)

13 (1.7)

Living/sleeping with infected person

7 (0.9)

7 (0.9)

5 (0.7)

Sex with infected person

4 (0.5)

4 (0.5)

3 (0.4)

Sex during menstrual period

2 (0.3)

10 (1.3)

4 (0.5)

Witchcraft

2 (0.3)

2 (0.3)

6 (0.8)

Injury

2 (0.3)

2 (0.3)

2 (0.3)

Infection with parasites

3 (0.4)

2 (0.3)

–

Inherited

3 (0.4)

2 (0.3)

2 (0.3)

God’s decision

–

–

2 (0.3)

Other causes

2b (1.9)

8c(1.1)

–

  1. aRelated to witchcraft
  2. bWeather conditions (n = 2)
  3. cHigh ambient temperature (n = 1), drinking coconut milk (n = 1), chronic hernia (n = 6)