The role of primary health care in filariasis control in Indonesia.

In filariasis control in Indonesia, various regimes of DEC administration have been tried out with good results. However, the higher dosage regimes gave severe reactions. Since a trial with low dosage administration by community leaders gave very good results with minimal side effects, the execution of the control program was handed over to the Primary Health Care unit whose personnel trained community leaders to recognize the symptoms of the disease, distribute the drugs and treat side effects when they occurred.

Social and behavioral aspects of filariasis transmission in Kumpeh, Jambi, Indonesia.

Studies on the social and behavioral aspects of filariasis transmission were conducted in the transmigration area of Kumpeh, in the province of Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia. Three methods were used in the study namely, interview, participation observation and focus group discussion. A total of 266 respondents (136 males and 130 females) were interviewed.

Current status of filariasis in Indonesia.

Filariasis in Indonesia is widely distributed. Three species consisting of 5 ecologically different types have been identified infecting man. Compared to older data, infection rates are much lower, partly due to environmental change and partly as a result of control programs.

The importance of communication with the foci of infection in the transmission of filariasis in Indonesia.

Studies on the occurrence of early symptoms of filariasis have been conducted in two transmigration Units in the valley of the Wae Apu river, Buru island, Maluku Province, Indonesia. In both Units, higher disease rates were found in areas, where there was a closer contact with positive natives, higher density of the vector mosquito, and higher infective rates in the mosquitoes.