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Immunoglobulin therapy has a crucial role in the treatment of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies as well as in a multitude of neurologic, hematologic, infectious, and autoimmune conditions. In the current study, a preliminary pilot scale needs assessment survey was conducted to examine the need for IVIG among patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and in so doing justify local manufacturing of IVIG products. The survey was performed by administering a structured questionnaire to private and government hospitals, a national blood bank, a regulatory body, and healthcare researchers working in academia and pharmaceutical companies. The questionnaire encompassed demographics and specific IVIG-related questions designed for each institution. Responses supplied in the study provide qualitative data. Our findings indicated that IVIG has been registered by the regulatory body for use in Ethiopia and there is a demand for the product in the country. The study also highlights that patients go as far as to clandestine markets to procure IVIG products at a cheaper price. To impede such illegal routes and make the product readily accessible, a small-scale and low-cost approach such as a mini-pool plasma fractionation technique could be implemented to locally purify and prepare IVIG using plasma collected through the national blood donation program.

Kedir Urgesa,1 Kidist Bobosha,2 Berhanu Seyoum,2 Biftu Geda,3 Fitsum Weldegebreal,3 Adane Mihret,2 Rawleigh Howe,2 Mirgissa Kaba,4 Abraham Aseffa2 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 2Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; 4School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Kedir Urgesa P.O Box 235, Harar, EthiopiaTel +251940635596Email kedirbofe@gmail.comIntroduction: Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a potentially disabling disease that results in discrimination and self-stigma. A delay in case detection among leprosy patients is one of the factors resulting in disability. Although poor insights of the community toward leprosy lead to delays in case detection, studies on such matters are neglected in Ethiopia.Objective: To assess the level of community knowledge and attitudes toward leprosy in Fedis District, Eastern Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 728 randomly selected households from July to August 2019. Each participant was interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire consisting of participants' socio-demographic background, questions related to knowledge of and attitudes toward leprosy. The collected data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using STATA version 13. Chi-squared test, binary, and multivariable logistic regressions were applied as appropriate to assess the association between outcome and independent variables.Results: Among 728 study participants, 608 (83.52%) of them had heard about leprosy. Among the study participants who had heard of leprosy, 346 (56.91%) of them had high knowledge of leprosy. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that study participants who completed grade 1– 8 (AOR=1.68, 95% CI=1.09– 2.58, P=0.017) and government employees (AOR=7.56, 95% CI=2.23– 25.63, P=0.001) were significantly associated with high level of knowledge of leprosy. Out of 608 study participants who had heard of leprosy, only 248 (40.79%) had a favorable attitude toward leprosy. Study participants who completed grade 1– 8 (AOR= 2.72, 95% CI=1.76– 4.19, P= 0.000) and urban inhabitants (AOR=0.49, 95% CI=0.31– 0.75, P= 0.032) were significantly associated with favorable attitude toward leprosy. Having high knowledge of leprosy was significantly associated with favorable attitudes toward leprosy.Conclusion: This study revealed unfavorable attitudes toward leprosy among the community. Having a high overall knowledge level on leprosy has been shown to support a favorable attitude toward leprosy.Keywords: leprosy, knowledge, attitude, endemic, Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a potentially disabling disease that results in discrimination and self-stigma. A delay in case detection among leprosy patients is one of the factors resulting in disability. Although poor insights of the community toward leprosy lead to delays in case detection, studies on such matters are neglected in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of community knowledge and attitudes toward leprosy in Fedis District, Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 728 randomly selected households from July to August 2019. Each participant was interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire consisting of participants' socio-demographic background, questions related to knowledge of and attitudes toward leprosy. The collected data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using STATA version 13. Chi-squared test, binary, and multivariable logistic regressions were applied as appropriate to assess the association between outcome and independent variables. RESULTS: Among 728 study participants, 608 (83.52%) of them had heard about leprosy. Among the study participants who had heard of leprosy, 346 (56.91%) of them had high knowledge of leprosy. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that study participants who completed grade 1–8 (AOR=1.68, 95% CI=1.09–2.58, P=0.017) and government employees (AOR=7.56, 95% CI=2.23–25.63, P=0.001) were significantly associated with high level of knowledge of leprosy. Out of 608 study participants who had heard of leprosy, only 248 (40.79%) had a favorable attitude toward leprosy. Study participants who completed grade 1–8 (AOR= 2.72, 95% CI=1.76–4.19, P= 0.000) and urban inhabitants (AOR=0.49, 95% CI=0.31–0.75, P= 0.032) were significantly associated with favorable attitude toward leprosy. Having high knowledge of leprosy was significantly associated with favorable attitudes toward leprosy. CONCLUSION: This study revealed unfavorable attitudes toward leprosy among the community. Having a ...