Onchocercal skin disease in Benue state, Nigeria: integrated assessment of burden and psychosocial impact, and associated factors

INTRODUCTION

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) has caused profound morbidity and mortality in endemic areas, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 120 million people living in endemic areas worldwide^[1-3]. The burden of onchocerciasis in severely affected populations in Sub-Saharan Africa is marked by various types of skin and eye diseases that lead to considerable negative social and economic effects such as low self-esteem, ostracization, decreased productivity, and suicide attempts^[4-6]. Despite considerable success in the control of onchocerciasis during the last decades, irreversible blindness and elephantiasis of the scrotum are not uncommon in adults in many endemic communities.

About 12.2 million people suffer from onchocercal skin disease (OSD). The disease is characterized by infection associated with subcutaneous nodules, severe itching, and dermatological changes, such as depigmentation, lichenification, and atrophy^[2,4]. Social stigma such as discriminatory response, avoidance, and ostracism lead to loss of self-confidence, poverty as productivity decreases, and reduced life expectancy by up to 15 years^[7,8]. The physical and psychosocial impacts of the infection are profound, as the educational chances of children who become carers of disabled adults are abridged^[9,10]. The degree of clinical pathology varies with geographical locations, parasite strain, and environmental and human host factors^[11]. The stigma and discrimination associated with onchocerciasis are closely related to the severity of OSD that significantly affects the quality of life as a consequence of the depressive symptom and social isolation of the affected^[4,8,9,12].

Nigeria has been ranked as the most onchocerciasis-endemic country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with about seven million prevalent cases (about 40% of global cases)^[2,7,13]. The country initiated a national control program with support from WHO/APOC in 1995, based on a regular mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin^[14]. Ivermectin is a safe and potent broad-spectrum anthelminthic drug that successfully reduces infection and transmission with few adverse events^[15]. The overall objective addresses the WHO sustainable Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of improving health, reducing illiteracy and poverty, and promoting economic development in endemic communities. The success of periodic MDA depends on the duration of the treatment program, anchored on spatial epidemiological data, including the parasite strain, clinical picture, knowledge, cultural beliefs, and practices of individuals^[16,17]. Several studies have revealed the public health importance of nodules and OSD, but there is a lack of reliable diagnostic tools for the surveillance and monitoring of the disease in high-risk areas^[4,18,19]. Only a few validated standard methods have been used to qualitatively evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of patients with OSD^[4,20,21]. Studies on the psychosocial and socioeconomic consequences of the disease on the affected populations in Nigeria have been well documented^[4,9,21,22]. However, to follow an integrated control concept based on One Health principles, additional information on the degree of disability caused by onchocerciasis is needed. In this study, to measure the degree to which onchocercal skin disease (OSD) impairs QoL in endemic resource-poor communities in Benue State, Nigeria, we assessed the prevalence, burden, and socioenvironmental variables associated with onchocerciasis in endemic communities and applied the modified dermatological quality of life index (iDLQI) to measure the QoL of OSD patients. Factors associated with a considerable impact on QoL were assessed.

METHODS

Study area

We conducted the study in four onchocerciasis hyper-endemic communities in three contiguous local government areas (LGAs) in the east of Benue State, Nigeria (7°20′ N 8°45′ E), namely Ushongo, Kwande, and Katsina-Ale [Figure 1]. A household census conducted in the study area before data collection identified a total of 1593 households (about 11,948 individuals). The communities were considered as one study area for this study.

Figure 1. Study area showing the sampling areas.

Detailed geography and characteristics of the study area have been previously described^[23]. In brief, the communities are located along the tributaries of River Benue at an elevation of about 380 m. The area is characterized by tropical guinea savannah vegetation with an average daily temperature of 35-37°C during the hot-dry season (November to April) and a mean annual precipitation range of 1200-1800 mm in the wet months (May to October).

The residents are primarily subsistence farmers of food crops, majorly of Idoma and Tiv ethnic groups, and of Christian faith. Illiteracy rates are high. There is a water project for the inhabitants, but small rivers, streams, and dug wells serve as sources of water supply for domestic consumption and farming purpose. About 85% of the households have a monthly per capita income of < N 18,000 (the equivalent of US $50 at the time of the study), the national minimum wage. Hygienic conditions are precarious, as waste and garbage are scattered indiscriminately around houses, and there is no public waste collection. Periodic MDA with ivermectin for the control of onchocerciasis was launched by WHO in the area in the early 2000s, with the installation of rural healthcare centers for the treatment of patients. If necessary, patients are referred to specialized hospitals in Makurdi, the state capital.

RESULTS

Of the target population of 1590 individuals (885 males and 705 females) belonging to 212 households, 1323 (83.2%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 307 (23.2%) participated in the study, while 548 declined participation for lack of monetary/material incentive, 435 abstained for cultural reasons, and 33 were not encountered after repeated visits.

The demographical and clinical characteristics of the study population are depicted in Table 1. The median age was 40 years, and about 62% were males, residing in the communities of Saati-Agirigi (63), Saatikyo (67), Manyam (125), and Hitom (52). The median time living in the communities was 28 years (IQR: 5-45 years). Overall, 94% had at least two onchocerciasis-associated symptoms. Onchocercal nodules were the most common manifestation of positive individuals, followed by chronic popular dermatitis and secondary skin infections [Table 1]. Almost 25% of the individuals presented papular dermatitis. Atrophy, hanging groin, hernia, and hydrocele were less common. Severe morbidity of more than five nodules per patient was observed in 4.5% of the affected population [Table 1].

Table 1

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population (n = 307)

Variables	Numbers
Age in years: median (range/IQR)	40 (3-100/25-55)
No. of males/females	189 (61.6%)/118(38.4%)
Age of males: median (range/IQR)	45 (3-100/29-55)
Age of females: median (range/IQR)	35 (9-90/20-50)
Duration in years in community: median (range/IQR)	28(1-100/15-45)
Educational level:	N (%)
Illiterate	89 (29.0%)
Primary	108 (35.2%)
Secondary/tertiary	110 (35.8%)
Onchocerciasis-associated signs and symptoms	N (%)
Nodules	235 (76.5)
Chronic papular dermatitis	68 (22.1)
Secondary skin infections*	83 (27.0)
Depigmentation (leopard skin)	59 (19.2)
Acute papular dermatitis	68(14.3)
Lichenified dermatitis	6 (1.3)
Hanging groin	3 (1.0)
Hernia	4 (1.3)
Hydrocele	3 (1.0)
Atrophy	13 (4.2)
Two symptoms or more	288 (93.8)
N0. of nodules/patient: median (range/IQR)	2.0 (1-13/1-3)
0 nodules	72 (23.4)
1-4 nodules	220 (71.6)
5-9 nodules	9 (2.9)
10 or more nodules	5 (1.6)

*Defined as the presence of pus and pustules in excoriated lesions and wounds.

The impairment of quality of life in both adults and children is presented in Figure 2. The median score was 0 [interquartile range (IQR): 0-0] in children and 5 (IQR: 2-8; P < 0.001) in adults. Comparatively, the frequency of mDLQI in adults and children shows that work activities are most commonly affected by OSD. Feeling embarrassed/ashamed and social exclusion were more commonly reported in adults than children. Quality of life in the dressing activities was less commonly reported by both children and adults [Figure 2].

Figure 2. Frequency of dermatology life quality index (DLQI) dimensions in adults (A) and children (B) in Benue State, Nigeria.

The bivariate analysis identified older age and marital status as associated factors with moderate or large effects [Table 2]. The mDLQI was higher in farmers and males. Apart from visual impairment, unpleasant skin conditions, such as itching, excoriation, itching, secondary infection, nodules, and leopard skin, were associated with a moderate or large effect on the quality of life [Table 3]. In logistic regression analysis, there was a significant association between increasing age (adjusted odds ratio = 1.44; 95%CI: 1.21-1.71; P < 0.001) with a severe mDLQI score. Visual impairment remained significantly associated with severe mDLQI (adjusted odds ratio = 1.78; 95%CI: 1.02-3.10; P = 0.040). The presence of papular rash was an independent protective factor for mDLQI severity (adjusted odds ratio = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.27-0.93; P = 0.030).

Table 2

Sociodemographic variables associated with the moderate or very high effect of onchocerciasis in the mDLQI scale in Benue State, Nigeria

Variables	Total	mDLQI - moderate or very high effect				P-value
		N	%	RR	95%CI
Age group (years)
0-20	48	3	6.2	1	-	< 0.001
20-39	92	40	43.5	6.95	2.26-21.32
40-60	103	49	47.6	7.61	2.49-23.19
> 60	64	33	51.5	8.25	2.68-25.31
Sex
Female	118	40	33.9	1	-	0.055
Male	189	85	45.0	1.32	0.98-1.78
Marital status
Single/divorced	61	13	21.3	1	-	< 0.001
Married	246	112	45.5	2.13	1.29-3.52
Illiteracy	89	37	41.6	1.24	0.76-1.38	0.845
Farmer	238	104	43.7	1.37	0.93-2.01	0.083
Monthly income of family head
< n (15,000) n (15,000-30,000) > n (30,000)	180 71 56	72 31 22	40.0 43.7 39.3	1 1.09 0.98	- 0.79-1.50 0.67-1.42	0.843
House type
Bricks Palm/vegetal	95 212	45 80	47.4 37.7	1 0.79	- 0.60-1.04	0.112
House light	20	10	50.0	0.80	0.50-1.27	0.382
Waste disposal site
Far from house Close to house	43 263	17 107	40.7 39.5	1 1.03	- 0.69-1.53	0.887
Use open tanks as water storage system	125	117	50.0	0.80	0.48-1.34	0.437
Walking distance from house to river
> 10 minutes < 10 minutes	169 136	62 63	36.7 45.6	1 1.24	- 0.94-1.62	0.116
Community
Saati-Agirigi Saatikyo Manyam Hitom	63 67 125 52	30 26 51 18	47.6 38.8 47.6 34.6	1 0.81 0.85 0.72	- 0.54-1.21 0.61-1.19 0.46-1.14	0.542

Table 3

Symptoms and treatment associated with the moderate or very high effect of onchocerciasis in the mDLQI scale in Benue State, Nigeria

Symptoms variables	Total	mDLQI - Moderate or very high effect				P-value
		N	%	RR	95%CI
Itching Degree of itching (n = 182)	192	83	43.2	1.18	0.88-1.58	0.247
Light	35	16	51.4	1	-	0.319
Moderate	65	24	36.9	0.72	0.45-1.13
Severe	82	38	46.3	0.90	0.60-1.34
Excoriation Degree of excoriation (n = 155)	162	71	43.8	1.17	0.89-1.54	0.241
< 3 tracks	32	12	37.5	1	-	0.522
3-5 tracks	80	37	46.2	1.23	0.74-2.04
6-10 tracks	39	18	46.1	1.23	0.70-2.15
> 10 tracks	4	3	75.0	2.00	0.97-4.11
Secondary infection	83	38	45.8	1.17	0.88-1.56	0.271
Leopard skin	59	26	44.1	1.10	0.79-1.52	0.560
Papular rash	68	19	27.9	0.62	0.42-0.94	0.015
Lizard/Crocodile skin	6	3	50.0	1.23	0.54-2.77	0.640
Hanging groin	3	1	33.3	0.81	0.16-4.07	0.794
Hernia	4	3	75.0	1.86	1.04-3.33	0.308*
Hydrocele	3	2	66.7	1.64	0.73-3.71	0.569*
Presence of nodules	235	101	43.0	1.29	0.90-1.84	0.145
Atrophy	13	5	38.4	0.94	0.46-1.89	0.866
Visually impaired	203	97	47.8	1.77	1.25-2.51	< 0.001
Treatment
Infection status	304	125	41.1	-	-	0.149
Currently on drugs	269	110	33.0	1.03	0.68-1.57	0.868

*Fisher exact test.

Table 4 shows that knowledge of the disease was significantly associated with a moderate or high effect of onchocerciasis on the mDLQI scale. Comparatively, the mode of treatment and level of compliance to treatment had a higher median mDLQI score than treatment of the disease during infection.

Table 4

Knowledge associated with the moderate or very high effect of onchocerciasis in the mDLQI scale in Benue State, Nigeria

Knowledge variables	Total	mDLQI - Moderate or very high effect				P-value
		N	%	RR	95%CI
Heard of the disease before	294	125	42,5	-	-	0.002*
Knowledge of transmission by insect bite	229	95	41.5	1.07	0.78-1.48	0.639
Belief in being caused by a spiritual problem	1	0	0.0	0	-	1.000*
Belief of transmission by drinking or taking a bath in the river	30	12	40.0	0.98	0.61-1.55	0.933
Treatment during infection	269	110	33.0	1.03	0.68-1.57	0.868
Knowledge of the method of treatment
Drugs	264	108	40.9	1	-	0.453*
Herbal	7	4	57.1	1.40	0.72-2.69
Level of compliance with MDA
No compliance	25	11	44.0	1	-	0.673
Half compliance	79	29	36.7	0.83	0.49-1.41
Full compliance	161	68	42.2	1.34	0.59-1.55

*Fisher exact test.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we found for the first time that OSD affects the QoL of both children and adults in Nigeria. We adapted DLQI, a self-explanatory questionnaire, confirmed to be most suitable for assessing different skin diseases^[24]. The mDLQI score correlated with the severity of OSD. The outcome strengthens previously reported data on the negative impacts of OSD on the QoL from similar endemic areas in tropical Africa.

Nearly all common clinical signs and symptoms associated with onchocerciasis were reported, indicating the endemicity of infection in the area. While this is consistent with the previously reported data from the same geographical zone^[22,23,27], the prevalence of OSD was comparatively lower in this study. About 30% of the population with moderate and heavy OSD reported a negative impact on their QoL, with a median mDLQI score of 4, suggesting a downward change from the burden of the negative impacts of the disease, possibly due to the effectiveness of the ongoing control program with ivermectin. However, a significant proportion of the study population presented palpable nodules, the most realistic diagnostic sign, and OSD, commonly pruritus, papular onchocercal dermatitis, atrophy, and depigmentation, as reported in many onchocerciasis-endemic areas in Nigeria and other west African countries^[15,28,29]. This underscores either the irreversibility of chronic skin pathologies due to onchocerciasis or a subsisting low-grade transmission.

The mDLQI scores were determined by the dermal form of the disease known to have tremendous psychosocial effects on the patient due to color and texture changes of the skin^[25]. Remme^[30] observed that the burden of OSD alone was greater than the burden of visual impairment and blindness. Onchocercal pruritus often marks onchocercal infection and causes severe itching and scratching that leads to sleeplessness, fatigue, general debilitation, and harmful psychosocial effects^[5,9,29]. In Nigeria, incessant itchy skin results in excoriation and subsequent superinfection with bacteria that affects women to insufficiently breastfeed their infants^[5,29]. Surprisingly, qualitative information on the effects of itching and reactive skin lesions on the quality of life of the affected population is limited in many endemic populations in Nigeria. Quality of life is a multidimensional entity that can only be measured when the relevant facets are evaluated^[24]. In this study, we modified and adapted DLQI to the local culture, an explanatory questionnaire that satisfactorily evaluates the pathophysiological and psychological features of OSD on the QoL in adults and children. Consistent with the reports on the association of onchocerciasis infection with age^[4,16,29,31], our findings on the perception of the degree of impairment are clearly age-dependent, relative to the difference in the occurrence and severity of skin disease between adults and children in the first two decades of age.

In this study, problems faced at work and schools were generally the most frequent cause of QoL impairment in adults and children. This portends a grave socioeconomic consequence because onchocerciasis is an occupational disease of peasant farmers, unskilled laborers, and nomads and fishermen involved in outdoor activities. In endemic areas in southwestern Nigeria, Oladipo et al. observed that farmers with severe OSD had less farmland for cultivation^[32]. This may induce low agricultural and economic productivities, which may lead to decreased earnings rates and increased financial strains - a condition with a high risk of developing depression^[12]. In children, absenteeism from school due to stigmatization leads to high school dropout. Brieger et al. reported that children in western Nigeria dropped out of school as a consequence of OSD^[9]. This is usually three-fold higher in households with severe OSD than in households without OSD^[2]. All of these may threaten the occupational and economic opportunities in the endemic population. Paradoxically, many long-term residents living in impoverished settings with extreme poverty perceive onchocerciasis-induced misery as a negligible health issue compared to daily life problems.

Other emotional aspects also reported by respondents were that discomfort and restriction on leisure and sexual activities regarding their imperfect body image. These impacts of stigma were reported more by adult than child respondents. This reflects the age-dependent burden of OSD observed in Africa^[4,28]. The perception of adults with regard to sexual relationships may be gender related. Although severe OSD is not sexually transmitted, the unpleasant appearance of ulcerative genital lesions and lichenified and depigmented skin considerably lower self-esteem and cause frustration, depression, and marital problems. Especially young single women, being more concerned about their appearance, feel the brunt of sexual unattractiveness compared to men, because it may affect the prospect of marriage. Yew et al. showed that adult atopic dermatitis was significantly associated with a high rate of divorce and separation in the United States^[12]. This study also showed that most variability in the severity of OSD is significantly associated with differences in age, marital status, and socioeconomic factors such as occupation and income.

Peasant farmers had high mDLQI scores. This can be ascribed to the ecological and behavioral factors that favor intense parasite/vectors contacts. Earlier reports^[33,34] showed that the biting behavior of the blackfly vector Simulium damnosum and the peak of parasite transmission occur during the dry-hot season (January to May), which coincides with the critical period of clearing and planting season for farmers in the study area. The work activities induce full or partial exposure of the body, thus increasing vector contact.

Our observation on the association of poor knowledge of disease transmission and use of herbal treatment on mDLQI score was substantial for concern. Although much of the population had appreciable knowledge about onchocerciasis, the knowledge gap on disease transmission, diagnosis, and treatment was extensive. This portends serious public health challenges when infected residents of endemic areas migrate to non-endemic areas with similar ecological conditions.

Anecdotal evidence confirms that onchocercal itching is ascribed to the bite of insects, possibly blackfly vector or midges. Domche et al. reported that the duration of residency and age of individuals in endemic communities were associated with good knowledge and perception of the disease^[35]. However, poor knowledge of the disease can be attributed to poor education by the community mobilization and sensitization teams. The consequences of this on the entire community and control measures are grave, considering that ignorance of disease transmission increases exposure to infection. Our study population was predominantly of low income and low level of education. These features are proxies for poor living conditions and personal and environmental hygiene. Individuals with poor living conditions where adequate and affordable healthcare services are inaccessible would seek alternative treatment to ameliorate the burden of infection. It is, therefore, not a surprise that participants would prefer herbal treatment, and it partly explains why reported cases of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy and nodding syndrome in infected poor individuals in rural settings are common.

Onchocerciasis is a disfiguring arthropod-borne parasitic disease that is inextricably linked with other neglected tropical diseases that form part of the vicious cycle of poverty in many endemic areas in Africa. The control program by MDAs meets the WHO sustainable development goals that aim to reduce illiteracy and extreme poverty, ensure equity, and improve the health and well-being of individuals as well as the economic development of the affected populations. Under the Africa Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) mandate, MDA of ivermectin to the target populations remains the only “vertical” control approach to impede disease transmission and improve people’s quality of life and personal health. In many endemic rural communities in Nigeria, where gastrointestinal helminthiasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, loiasis, and malaria coexist with the targeted onchocerciasis^[36], helminthic diseases such as strongyloidiasis, filariasis, and cestodiasis are susceptible to ivermectin treatment. The One Health approach of integrating the onchocerciasis vertical control program with existing WHO programs will not only enhance efficient drug delivery but also stimulate commitment, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug for a wide range of human skin-borne parasitic arthropods such as scabies, cutaneous larva migrans, pediculosis, and myiasis^[37]; the intervention with ivermectin would effectively and safely reduce the occurrence of other parasitic infections. Our findings also provide evidence of the need to incorporate QoL of the affected population in post-intervention surveillance that detects recrudescence and resistance of infection. It is believed that elimination of onchocerciasis is achievable when treatment of target areas is simultaneously maintained with blackfly vector (Simulium damnosum) control through a larvicidal approach and environmental changes. This cross-linkage of disease control programs would, by extension, ameliorate the nuisance and transmission of other water-borne vectors of species of Plasmodium, Wuchereria, Leishmania, and Loa.

There are several limitations to this study. First, the samples were localized in three selected endemic communities within a state of Nigeria, with many households not participating due to specific local cultural practices and other constraints, and participation rates were low. Therefore, the generalizability of the results may be limited, and there may be an underrepresentation of individuals with skin disease. There may also have been a gender participation bias, as women may have declined skin examination for cultural reasons more often than men or did not feel eligible to be pregnant/caring for babies. Women may also have been treated with ivermectin more regularly than men in the past, and there may have been fewer women fulfilling the criterion of having been treated for more than 12 months. Given that most of the respondents were already on active ivermectin treatment, this ameliorated the disease condition and may have led to an underestimation of the negative social effects of the disease. Secondly, the awareness of observers in endemic areas could possibly create observer bias, particularly when microfilaria load of the sampled populations was not determined for confirmation of infection. Despite these limitations, we believe that the study significantly contributes to knowledge on the topic in Nigeria and provides information for the elaboration of control measures within a One Health approach, also considering psychosocial effects of the disease.

In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the need for constant re-evaluation of onchocerciasis status in many endemic areas in Africa. The psychosocial impact of OSD has to be considered when planning and conducting control measures. An evaluation that considers the different requirements of various pathological groups will further improve the control program. Additional universal metrics could be used in future studies to describe the burden of disease, such as disability-adjusted life years.