Onchocerciasis has remained a public health problem,
despite several efforts over the years to eliminate it both by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and NGO’s. Prevalence of
human onchocerciasis was conducted amongst 274 patients
comprising 154 males and 120 females within the age range of
15 to 40 years and above, who were attending NKST Eye Care
Programme at Mkar-Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria from January,
2012 through June, 2013. Onchocerciasis infection was
diagnosed by parasitological observations for the presence of
microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in skin biopsies using
standard microscopy. A total of 37(13.50%) patients were found
to be infected with Onchocerca volvulus, comprising 26(9.49%)
males and 11(4.01%) females. The highest infection rate of
12(4.28%) was observed in patients aged 40 years and above
while the least infection was within the age range of 15- 19 years
of age 1(0.36%). However, there was no significant difference
(?2
-test, p>0.05) between the prevalence of infection and the age
groups. The result shows a significant difference between the
prevalence of infection and the patients’ occupation (?2
-test,
p<0.05); the farmers were the most infected 30(10.95%) while
students were least infected 1(0.36%). The patients from the
study area (Mkar-Gboko) had 0 (0%) infection out of the 21
patients examined for the disease while patients who came from
the neighboring local government areas had infections as
follows; Ushongo, had the highest prevalence rate of 17(6.20%)
out of the 76 patients examined. Meanwhile, 97 patients were
examined from Buruku with prevalence rate of 7(2.55%) while
out of the 80 patients examined from Kwande, 13(4.74%) were
infected. Though, the total prevalence rate was low compared to
the results of other findings, efforts should be intensified to
achieve improved ivermectin coverage and compliance in annual
ivermectin treatment in order to completely eliminate
onchocerciasis as a public health problem in the affected
communities. The public health and socio-economic implications
of the findings have been discussed.