A MODEL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE WITH TREATMENT ON NEISSERIA GONORRHEA DYNAMICS

Abstract

A simple nonlinear SIR mathematical model describing the use of gonorrhea public enlightenment as a control in the presence of treatment of gonorrhea infectives is considered to assess the contribution of behavioural change among the enlightened gonorrhea susceptible individuals. The enlightenment programme resulted in a change in the behaviour of enlightened gonorrhea susceptible individuals thereby splitting the susceptible class into three. The basic properties of the model are considered and the basic reproduction number (R₀) was determined. It was shown that, a decrease in the rate at which susceptible individuals know their gonorrhea status (P), increases the value of the basic reproduction number (R₀), the population of unaware susceptible individuals (S) and aware susceptible individuals (S₁). On the contrary, a decrease in  decreases the population of enlightened gonorrhea susceptible individuals who remain faithful to their uninfected sexual partners for life (S₂) as well as infected (I) and recovered (R) individuals. Also, a decrease in the incidence rate of unaware neisseria gonorrhea susceptible individuals per unit time (B₁) decreases the basic reproduction number (R₀) and the populations of infected (I) and recovered (R) individuals, while the susceptible populations (S, S₁, and S₂) increase slightly. Finally, decreasing the incidence rate of aware neisseria gonorrhea susceptible individuals per unit time (B₂) gradually decreases the basic reproduction number (R₀) and, the populations of infected (I) and recovered (R) individuals, while the susceptible populations (S, S₁, and S₂) increase slightly. It is therefore recommended that, the relevant agencies should increase the rate of public enlightenment so as to bring the population of susceptible individuals to the barest minimum.