Burden of podoconiosis in poor rural communities in Gulliso woreda, West Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Podoconiosis is an environmental lymphoedema affecting people living and working barefoot on irritant red clay soil. Podoconiosis is relatively well described in southern Ethiopia, but remains neglected in other parts of the Ethiopian highlands. This study aimed to assess the burden of podoconiosis in rural communities in western Ethiopia.

Methodology/principal findings

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulliso woreda (district), west Ethiopia. A household survey in the 26 rural kebeles (villages) of this district was conducted to identify podoconiosis patients and to measure disease prevalence. A more detailed study was done in six randomly selected kebeles to describe clinical features of the disease, patients' experiences of foot hygiene, and shoe wearin

SUBMITTER: Alemu G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3110157 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature