Table 2 Knowledge of the respondents on onchocerciasis and black fly bio-ecology in the targeted communities

Numbers

132

83

215

Have you ever heard about onchocerciasis?

Yes

119 (90.2)

71 (85.5)

190 (88.4)

No

13 (9.8)

12 (14.5)

25 (11.6)

If “yes”, do you know transmission mode?

Black fly bites

23 (17.4)

27 (32.5)

50 (23.3)

Mosquitoes’ bites

9 (6.8)

5 (6.0)

14 (6.5)

Dirty food/water

1 (0.8)

0 (0)

1 (0.5)

Don't know

86 (65.2)

39 (47.0)

125 (58.1)

Have you ever heard of black flies?

Yes

131 (99.2)

82 (98.8)

213 (99.1)

No

1 (0.8)

1 (1.2)

2 (0.9)

Do you know that black flies can transmit diseases?

Yes

106 (80.3)

64 (77.1)

170 (79.1)

No

26 (19.7)

19 (22.9)

45 (20.9)

If “yes”, which one?^a

Filariasis

53 (40.2)

43 (51.8)

96 (44.7)

Malaria

25 (18.9)

16 (19.3)

41 (19.1)

Sleeping sickness

2 (1.5)

0 (0)

2 (0.9)

Scabies

8 (6.1)

6 (7.2)

14 (6.5)

Don't know

27 (20.5)

7 (8.4)

34 (15.8)

Do you have post-bite sequelae?

Yes

118 (89.4)

79 (95.2)

197 (91.6)

No

14 (10.6)

4 (4.8)

18 (8.4)

If “yes”, what kind of effects?^a

Itching

97 (73.5)

75 (90.4)

172 (80.0)

Swelling

31 (23.5)

48 (57.8)

79 (36.7)

Pain

6 (4.5)

2 (2.4)

8 (3.7)

Have you ever stopped working because of black fly bites?

Yes

95 (72)

54 (65.1)

149 (69.3)

No

37 (28)

29 (34.9)

66 (30.7)

Do black flies also bite you at home?

Yes

127 (96.2)

83 (100)

210 (97.7)

No

5 (3.8)

0 (0)

5 (2.3)

If “yes”, indoor or outdoor?

Indoor only

1 (0.75)

0 (0)

1 (0.5)

Outdoor only

42 (31.8)

40 (48.2)

82 (38.1)

Indoor and outdoor

84 (63.6)

43 (51.8)

127 (59.1)

How do you protect yourself from black fly bites?^a

Clothes covering the body

97 (73.5)

74 (89.2)

171 (79.5)

Palm oil

7 (5.3)

8 (9.6)

15 (7.0)

Diesel

2 (1.5)

3 (1.5)

5 (2.3)

Lemon extract

3 (2.3)

1 (1.2)

4 (1.9)

No protection

28 (21.2)

4 (4.8)

32 (14.9)

During which period are black flies more abundant?

Rainy season

100 (75.8)

75 (90.4)

175 (81.4)

Dry season

10 (7.6)

2 (2.4)

12 (5.6)

All seasons

10 (7.6)

4 (4.8)

14 (6.5)

Don’t know

12 (9.1)

2 (2.4)

14 (6.5)

Where do black flies lay their eggs?^a

River

9 (6.8)

14 (16.9)

23 (10.7)

Bush

36 (27.3)

9 (10.8)

45 (21.0)

Dirty water

0 (0)

1 (1.2)

1 (0.5)

Grass

1 (0.8)

2 (2.4)

3 (1.4)

Don’t know

87 (65.9)

60 (72.3)

147 (68.4)

Would you be willing to help in the fight against black flies?

Yes

86 (65.2)

83 (100)

169 (78.6)

No

43 (32.6)

0 (0)

43 (20.0)

Don’t know

3 (1.4)

0 (0)

3 (1.4)

Do you know about Mectizan?

Yes

123 (93.2)

83 (100)

206 (95.8)

No

9 (6.8)

0 (0)

9 (4.2)

Do you usually take Mectizan?

Yes

113 (85.6)

78 (94)

191 (88.3)

No

18 (13.6)

05 (6)

23 (10.7)