| Summary: | <b>Background:</b> Mass drug administration (MDA) means once-in-a-year administration of diethyl carbamazine (DEC) tablet to all people (excluding children under 2 years, pregnant women and severely ill persons) in identified endemic areas. It aims at cessation of transmission of lymphatic filariasis. <b> Objective:</b> What has been the coverage and compliance of MDA in Gujarat during the campaign in December 2006? <b> Study Design:</b> Cross-sectional population based house-to-house visit. <b> Setting:</b> Urban and rural areas in Gujarat identified as endemic for filariasis where MDA 2006 was undertaken. <b> Study Variables:</b> <i> Exploratory</i> - Rural and urban districts; <i> Outcome</i> - coverage, compliance, actual coverage, side effects. <b> Analysis:</b> Percentage and proportions. <b> Results:</b> Twenty-six clusters, each comprising 32 households from six endemic districts, yielded an eligible population of 4164. The coverage rate was 85.2% with variation across different areas. The compliance with drug ingestion was 89% with a gap of 11% to be targeted by intensive IEC. The effective coverage (75.8%) was much below the target (85%). Side effects of DEC were minimum, transient and drug-specific. Overall coverage was marginally better in rural areas. The causes of poor coverage and compliance have been discussed and relevant suggestions have been made.
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