Effects of Jigger Infestations on the Residents of Bukaboli Village in Mayuge District.

Abstract

Back ground The study of the effects of jigger infestation was done among residents of Bukaaboli, Mayuge district. The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of jigger infestation among residents of Bukaboli and was done under the following objectives: (i)To establish the physical effects of jigger infestation on the residents of Bukaboli village, Mayuge district. (ii)To assess the psychological effects of jigger infestation on the residents of Bukaboli village, Mayuge district. (iii)To explore social-economic effects of jigger infestation on the residents of Bukaboli village, Mayuge district.

Method used The study employed a cross-sectional study design. Data was collected using Researcher-administered questionnaires from a convenient sample of 196 participants. The data were processed and analyzed using descriptive techniques including frequencies, percentages, and cross tabulation with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS Version 16.0).

Study findings Results indicated that 98% of the participants had ever suffered from jiggers. Majority of the respondents (82.1%) were Basoga and in the age bracket (26-35)years. The biggest percentage was of poor people, 82.1% peasants. From the study, the majority of the participants were female(54.6%). A bigger percentage of the participants were married(87.8%).The study also revealed that the majority of the particippants were people of very low education status as follows; 68.9% were primary dropouts, 11.7% were secondary dropouts, 9.2% never attended school at all and only 10.2% attended tertiary institutions. The study also discovered that jiggers present a much more bigger negative impact to the health, social status, economy and academic progress of an individual thought of.

Recommendations Based on these findings, the study recommends the following among others to reverse the trend: the government should strategize to improve the education facilities in the region, the Ministry of Health, together with the local government should arrange for more health talks about jigger infestation to help in erasing the myths held about jiggers by most of the local people., more research needs to be done and education of the locals about jigger infestation and prevention.