Socio-economic burden of guinea worm disease in Ogun State: A discriminant analysis approach

Abstract

The paper employs discriminant analysis to examine key socio-economic variables which distinguish residents of
Odeda from Obafemi – Owode local government areas of Ogun State based on the incidence of guinea worm
disease status. It is evident that source of drinking water consumed, medication method adopted and duration of
healing of guinea worm disease have strong discriminating effects than other socio-economic variables like age,
sex, access to health education and type of labour employed. The study revealed an average man-day loss of
N850.20 and N1, 350 as the cost of treating the infection that takes 43.7days to heal completely. The paper suggests
provision of safe drinking water, either through boreholes,