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Nikièma AS, Koala L, Post RJ, Kima A, Compaoré J, Kafando CM, Nana JB, Bougouma C, Faye B, Traoré S, Dabiré RK. Progress towards elimination of onchocerciasis in the Region du Sud-Ouest of Burkina Faso which was previously subject to a recrudescence event after vector control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012118. [PMID: 38683750 PMCID: PMC11057763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Sud-Ouest region of Burkina Faso (especially the Bougouriba valley) has been historically problematic with respect to onchocerciasis control, with a recrudescence of infections after vector control carried out the WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme was halted in 1989. After 1996, mass drug administration of ivermectin was instigated to control the recrudescence so that it would no longer constitute a public health problem. However, in 2010 WHO changed its recommended policy from control to elimination, and in 2013 biannual Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) was instigated. Epidemiological surveys were carried-out in 2011 and 2018 to determine whether CDTI was producing a decline in infection levels and progress towards elimination. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A cross-sectional study was conducted across 20 villages in four health districts in 2011 and 29 villages in 2018. Individuals aged five years and above were examined by skin-snip, and the prevalence and microfilarial load was determined for each village. In 2011, 75% of villages had some infections and 20% had prevalences >5%, with a mean prevalence across all villages of 2.63% (range 0.0-9.7%), and community microfilarial load ranging from 0 to 0.25 microfilariae per biopsy. In 2018, nine villages (= 31% of total) had some infections, with prevalences ranging from 0.41% to 3.54%, and a mean prevalence across all villages of 0.37%. Community microfilarial load ranged from 0 to 0.1. Amongst those people found to be microfilarial positive, 87% had a history of migration. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The endemicity of onchocerciasis infection in the Sud-Ouest region has declined to low levels and seems to be progressing towards elimination. Our findings indicated that biannual CDTI is having good effect, but it should continue for a number of years to ensure elimination of transmission. However, progress towards elimination has a troublesome history in this region, and it would be advisable to select more sentinel villages to have confidence in any future epidemiological and entomological surveys, especially Stop-MDA surveys. With positive individuals migrating between countries, cross-border collaboration needs more attention to ensure effective treatment for onchocerciasis elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achille Sindimbasba Nikièma
- Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l’Ouest (IRSS/Bobo-Dioulasso), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Lassane Koala
- Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l’Ouest (IRSS/Bobo-Dioulasso), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Rory J. Post
- School of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Appolinaire Kima
- Ministère de la Santé, Direction de la Protection de la Santé de la Population, Programme National de Lutte Contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Justin Compaoré
- Ministère de la Santé, Direction de la Protection de la Santé de la Population, Programme National de Lutte Contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Claude M. Kafando
- Ministère de la Santé, Direction de la Protection de la Santé de la Population, Programme National de Lutte Contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Jean Baptiste Nana
- Ministère de la Santé, Direction de la Protection de la Santé de la Population, Programme National de Lutte Contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Clarisse Bougouma
- Ministère de la Santé, Direction de la Protection de la Santé de la Population, Programme National de Lutte Contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Soungalo Traoré
- Ministère de la Santé, Direction de la Protection de la Santé de la Population, Programme National de Lutte Contre les Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Roch Kounbobr Dabiré
- Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Direction Régionale de l’Ouest (IRSS/Bobo-Dioulasso), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
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Turner HC, Sandmann FG, Downey LE, Orangi S, Teerawattananon Y, Vassall A, Jit M. What are economic costs and when should they be used in health economic studies? COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION 2023; 21:31. [PMID: 37189118 DOI: 10.1186/s12962-023-00436-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Economic analyses of healthcare interventions are an important consideration in evidence-based policymaking. A key component of such analyses is the costs of interventions, for which most are familiar with using budgets and expenditures. However, economic theory states that the true value of a good/service is the value of the next best alternative forgone as a result of using the resource and therefore observed prices or charges do not necessarily reflect the true economic value of resources. To address this, economic costs are a fundamental concept within (health) economics. Crucially, they are intended to reflect the resources' opportunity costs (the forgone opportunity to use those resources for another purpose) and they are based on the value of the resource's next-best alternative use that has been forgone. This is a broader conceptualization of a resource's value than its financial cost and recognizes that resources can have a value that may not be fully captured by their market price and that by using a resource it makes it unavailable for productive use elsewhere. Importantly, economic costs are preferred over financial costs for any health economic analyses aimed at informing decisions regarding the optimum allocation of the limited/competing resources available for healthcare (such as health economic evaluations), and they are also important when considering the replicability and sustainability of healthcare interventions. However, despite this, economic costs and the reasons why they are used is an area that can be misunderstood by professionals without an economic background. In this paper, we outline to a broader audience the principles behind economic costs and when and why they should be used within health economic analyses. We highlight that the difference between financial and economic costs and what adjustments are needed within cost calculations will be influenced by the context of the study, the perspective, and the objective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo C Turner
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Frank G Sandmann
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura E Downey
- The George Institute for Global Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stacey Orangi
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yot Teerawattananon
- Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anna Vassall
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Mark Jit
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Arije O, Titus R, Olaniran A, Dadi A, Garba D, Okeke E, Godpower O, Anyanti J, Idogho O, Roebersen C, Vrolings E, Onayade A. Effectiveness of community mobilisation models in improving HIV testing services uptake among women and children in Nigeria: A quasi-experimental study. Glob Public Health 2023; 18:2284880. [PMID: 38015746 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2284880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Nigeria carries a high burden of HIV infections, with Taraba State having a prevalence of 2.49%. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of the Lafiyan Yara project, which utilised various community-based mobilisation models, on the enhancement of HTS uptake among women during pregnancy, and children. The intervention involved the implementation of mobilisation by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA), Village Health Workers (VHW), Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), and a combination of the three in four study local government areas (LGA) in Taraba State. Baseline and end-line surveys were conducted focused on women aged 15-49 years who delivered a child in the past 1 year, and children in their households, in the study and a control LGA. A difference-in-difference (DID) approach was applied by using a probit regression model with interaction terms for treatment status (intervention vs. control) and survey timing to compute the DID estimates of uptake of HTS. The TBA model showed the highest impact in the referral of women to HTS, while the combined model demonstrated the greatest impact in referrals for children. Scaling up and strengthening these community mobilisation efforts can improve access to HIV testing and contribute to HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olujide Arije
- Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Rachel Titus
- Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Akintayo Olaniran
- Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Aisha Dadi
- Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adedeji Onayade
- Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
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Efon-Ekangouo A, Nana-Djeunga HC, Nwane P, Lisongue-Tonga E, Domche A, Sumo L, Osei-Atweneboana MY, Geiger A, Kamgno J. Prevalence of epilepsy in Ndom Health District (Littoral Region, Cameroon) after long-term ivermectin-based preventive chemotherapy for the control of onchocerciasis. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 136:108939. [PMID: 36252289 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Assuming the causality relationship between Onchocerca volvulus infection and epilepsy onset, preventive chemotherapy for the control onchocerciasis can result to a significant impact on epilepsy burden. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis endemic area under annual CDTI for 16 years. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two communities (Kelleng and Nkonkwalla) located in the Ndom Health District (Littoral Region, Cameroon) to assess the prevalence of epilepsy using a standardized questionnaire for non-specialists in tropical areas. Data on the nuisance of onchocerciasis vector and distance of surveyed households to the river were also collected. Epilepsy status was collected from 367 participants (sex ratio (M/F): 1.13). The crude prevalence of epilepsy was estimated at 8.4 % (95 % CI: 5.8-11.8); the highest prevalence was found in females (13.8 %; 95 % CI: 8.8-20.3) compared to males (5.0 %; 95 % CI: 2.4-9.04)) (p-value = 0.02) and in Nkonkwalla (9.0 %; 95 % CI: 5.5-13.6) (p-value = 0.82) compared to Kelleng (7.7 %; 95 % CI: 4.06-13.13). After 16 years of CDTI in Kelleng, crude prevalence of epilepsy decreased from 10.2 % to 7.2 % (p-value = 0.19), whereas the age sex-standardized prevalence dropped from 13.5 % to 7.7 % between 2004 and 2020 (p-value = 0.05). The median age of epilepsy cases shifted from 24 (IQR: 20-30) in 2004 to 28 years (IQR: 23-34) in 2020. The shift in age-specific prevalence over the years suggests a decreasing incidence of epilepsy in areas under long-term CDTI and a significant impact of onchocerciasis control on the prevalence of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnauld Efon-Ekangouo
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), PO Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon; INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, TA A-17/G Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Hugues C Nana-Djeunga
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), PO Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
| | - Philippe Nwane
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), PO Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Elvis Lisongue-Tonga
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), PO Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - André Domche
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), PO Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Laurentine Sumo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, PO Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon
| | - Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana
- Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit, CSIR-Water Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana; CSIR-College of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana
| | - Anne Geiger
- INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, TA A-17/G Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Joseph Kamgno
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), PO Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, PO Box 1364, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Dilliott D, Addiss D, Thickstun C, Djima AM, Comoe E, Thompson L, Neema S, Amuyunzu-Nyamongo M, Wung-Buh A, McFarland D, Gyapong M, Krentel A. A mixed-methods exploration into the resilience of community drug distributors conducting mass drug administration for preventive chemotherapy of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis in Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000700. [PMID: 36962463 PMCID: PMC10022276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Volunteer community drug distributors (CDDs) have been vital to progress made in the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis; two neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy (PC-NTDs). However, formative work in Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda revealed that CDDs can encounter considerable challenges during mass drug administration (MDA). CDDs must be resilient to overcome these challenges, yet little is known about their resilience. This mixed-methods study explored the resilience of CDDs in Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda. The characteristics and experiences of 248 CDDs involved in the 2018 MDAs in Côte d'Ivoire (N = 132) and Uganda (N = 116) were assessed using a micronarrative survey. Thematic analysis of CDDs' micronarratives was used to identify challenges they encountered during MDA. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25 (CD-RISC-25). Variables from the micronarrative survey found to be individually associated with mean CD-RISC-25 score (P<0.05) through bivariate analyses were included in a multiple linear regression model. Post-hoc, country-specific analyses were then conducted. Thematic analysis showed that CDDs encountered a wide range of challenges during MDA. The aggregate model revealed that CDDs who had positive relationships or received support from their communities scored higher on the CD-RISC-25 on average (P<0.001 for both), indicating higher resilience. These trends were also observed in the country-specific analyses. Mean CD-RISC-25 scores were unaffected by variations in district, age, gender, and length of involvement with the NTD program. Community support during MDA and positive community-CDD relationships appear to be associated with CDDs' personal capacity to overcome adversity. Involving communities and community leadership in the selection and support of CDDs has the potential to benefit their well-being. This study establishes the CD-RISC-25 as a useful tool for assessing the resilience of CDDs. Further research is needed to understand, promote, and support the resilience of this valuable health workforce, upon which NTD programs depend.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Addiss
- NTD Support Center, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Charles Thickstun
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam Mama Djima
- Programme National de Lutte contre la Schistosomie, les Géo-Helminthiases et la Filariose Lymphatique, Ministère de la Santé et de l'Hygiène Publique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Esther Comoe
- Programme National de Lutte contre la Schistosomie, les Géo-Helminthiases et la Filariose Lymphatique, Ministère de la Santé et de l'Hygiène Publique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Lakwo Thompson
- Onchocerciasis Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Deborah McFarland
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Margaret Gyapong
- Center for Health Policy and Implementation Research, Institute for Health Research, University for Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Alison Krentel
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Lagatie O, Njumbe Ediage E, Van Roosbroeck D, Van Asten S, Verheyen A, Batsa Debrah L, Debrah A, Odiere MR, T’Kindt R, Dumont E, Sandra K, Dillen L, Verhaeghe T, Vreeken R, Cuyckens F, Stuyver LJ. Multimodal biomarker discovery for active Onchocerca volvulus infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009999. [PMID: 34843471 PMCID: PMC8659328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical disease onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is caused by infection with the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Current estimates indicate that 17 million people are infected worldwide, the majority of them living in Africa. Today there are no non-invasive tests available that can detect ongoing infection, and that can be used for effective monitoring of elimination programs. In addition, to enable pharmacodynamic studies with novel macrofilaricide drug candidates, surrogate endpoints and efficacy biomarkers are needed but are non-existent. We describe the use of a multimodal untargeted mass spectrometry-based approach (metabolomics and lipidomics) to identify onchocerciasis-associated metabolites in urine and plasma, and of specific lipid features in plasma of infected individuals (O. volvulus infected cases: 68 individuals with palpable nodules; lymphatic filariasis cases: 8 individuals; non-endemic controls: 20 individuals). This work resulted in the identification of elevated concentrations of the plasma metabolites inosine and hypoxanthine as biomarkers for filarial infection, and of the urine metabolite cis-cinnamoylglycine (CCG) as biomarker for O. volvulus. During the targeted validation study, metabolite-specific cutoffs were determined (inosine: 34.2 ng/ml; hypoxanthine: 1380 ng/ml; CCG: 29.7 ng/ml) and sensitivity and specificity profiles were established. Subsequent evaluation of these biomarkers in a non-endemic population from a different geographical region invalidated the urine metabolite CCG as biomarker for O. volvulus. The plasma metabolites inosine and hypoxanthine were confirmed as biomarkers for filarial infection. With the availability of targeted LC-MS procedures, the full potential of these 2 biomarkers in macrofilaricide clinical trials, MDA efficacy surveys, and epidemiological transmission studies can be investigated. Today’s diagnosis of infection with the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus mainly depends on the microscopic analysis of skin biopsies and serological testing. The work presented here describes the use of multiple mass spectrometry-based screening methods (metabolomics and lipidomics) to search for biomarkers indicative of infection with Onchocerca volvulus. This resulted in the identification of elevated concentrations of the plasma metabolites inosine and hypoxanthine as biomarkers for filarial infection, and of the urine metabolite cis-cinnamoylglycine as biomarker for O. volvulus. Further evaluation of these biomarkers in a geographically distinct non-endemic population however invalidated the use of urine cis-cinnamoylglycine. These findings are of utmost importance as it not only opens new avenues in the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools for filarial infections, but also emphasizes the need for evaluation and validation of newly discovered biomarkers in different populations from different geographies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole Lagatie
- J&J Global Public Health, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Ann Verheyen
- J&J Global Public Health, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alex Debrah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Maurice R. Odiere
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ruben T’Kindt
- Research Institute for Chromatography (RIC), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Emmie Dumont
- Research Institute for Chromatography (RIC), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Koen Sandra
- Research Institute for Chromatography (RIC), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Lieve Dillen
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
| | | | - Rob Vreeken
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D, Beerse, Belgium
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Assessing the effects of disease-specific programs on health systems: An analysis of the Bangladesh Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program's impacts on health service coverage and catastrophic health expenditure. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009894. [PMID: 34813600 PMCID: PMC8651132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study presents a methodology for using tracer indicators to measure the effects of disease-specific programs on national health systems. The methodology is then used to analyze the effects of Bangladesh’s Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program, a disease-specific program, on the health system. Using difference-in-differences models and secondary data from population-based household surveys, this study compares changes over time in the utilization rates of eight essential health services and incidences of catastrophic health expenditures between individuals and households, respectively, of lymphatic filariasis hyper-endemic districts (treatment districts) and of hypo- and non-endemic districts (control districts). Utilization of all health services increased from year 2000 to year 2014 for the entire population but more so for the population living in treatment districts. However, when the services were analyzed individually, the difference-in-differences between the two populations was insignificant. Disadvantaged populations (i.e., populations that lived in rural areas, belonged to lower wealth quintiles, or did not attend school) were less likely to access essential health services. After five years of program interventions, households in control districts had a lower incidence of catastrophic health expenditures at several thresholds measured using total household expenditures and total non-food expenditures as denominators. Using essential health service coverage rates as outcome measures, the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program cannot be said to have strengthened or weakened the health system. We can also say that there is a positive association between the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program’s interventions and lowered incidence of catastrophic health expenditures. Evidence to understand the interactions between disease specific programs and the health system is insufficient and largely based on opinion. This study presents a methodology for using tracer indicators to measure the effect of a disease-specific program, the Bangladesh Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program, on its health system. The Composite Coverage Index and incidence of catastrophic health expenditures are well-established tracer indicators for measuring the strength of a health system. In this study, they were calculated, before the program started in 2000 and after it ended in 2015, using data from Demographic and Health Surveys and Household Income and Expenditure Surveys, respectively. Using the Composite Coverage Index to measure the effects of the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program revealed that it did not negatively or positively affect health service coverage rates. We can also say that there is a positive association between the program interventions and lowered incidence of catastrophic health expenditures.
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Lee JK, Bullen C, Ben Amor Y, Bush SR, Colombo F, Gaviria A, Karim SSA, Kim B, Lavis JN, Lazarus JV, Lo YC, Michie SF, Norheim OF, Oh J, Reddy KS, Rostila M, Sáenz R, Smith LDG, Thwaites JW, Were MK, Xue L. Institutional and behaviour-change interventions to support COVID-19 public health measures: a review by the Lancet Commission Task Force on public health measures to suppress the pandemic. Int Health 2021; 13:399-409. [PMID: 33974687 PMCID: PMC8136029 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Lancet COVID-19 Commission Task Force for Public Health Measures to Suppress the Pandemic was launched to identify critical points for consideration by governments on public health interventions to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Drawing on our review of published studies of data analytics and modelling, evidence synthesis and contextualisation, and behavioural science evidence and theory on public health interventions from a range of sources, we outline evidence for a range of institutional measures and behaviour-change measures. We cite examples of measures adopted by a range of countries, but especially jurisdictions that have, thus far, achieved low numbers of COVID-19 deaths and limited community transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Finally, we highlight gaps in knowledge where research should be undertaken. As countries consider long-term measures, there is an opportunity to learn, improve the response and prepare for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Koo Lee
- Seoul National UniversityCollege of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Chris Bullen
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Yanis Ben Amor
- Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, 10115, USA
| | | | | | - Alejandro Gaviria
- School of Economics, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, 111711, Colombia
| | - Salim S Abdool Karim
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Private Bag X7, Congella, 4013, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, 10032, USA
| | - Booyuel Kim
- Department of Environmental Planning, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Environmental Planning Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - John N Lavis
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Jeffrey V Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08036, Spain
| | - Yi-Chun Lo
- Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Susan F Michie
- UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Ole F Norheim
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Postboks 7804 NO-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Juhwan Oh
- Seoul National UniversityCollege of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Mikael Rostila
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden
| | - Rocío Sáenz
- School of Public Health, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro Montes de Oca, San José, 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Liam D G Smith
- BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | - John W Thwaites
- Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | - Miriam K Were
- Champions of an AIDS-Free Generation in Africa, P.O. Box 63056 - 00200 Nairobi
| | - Lan Xue
- School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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9
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Addiss DG, Kienast Y, Lavery JV. Ethical dimensions of neglected tropical disease programming. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:190-195. [PMID: 33339025 PMCID: PMC7842092 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The global movement to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is grounded in an ethic of social justice, solidarity and health equity. NTD programmes deliver significant health benefits in socially complex environments characterized by poverty and economic disparity. We used two ethics frameworks—principlism and Upshur's public health framework—to examine ethical challenges faced by NTD programmes. They include management of serious adverse reactions associated with preventive chemotherapy, centralization of decision-making, ‘opt-out’ policies for school-based deworming, incomplete evidence for ‘pro-poor’ impact and persistent inequities in global partnerships. NTD programmes must actively address ethical challenges while pursuing global health goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Addiss
- Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Yvonne Kienast
- Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, USA.,Center for Ethics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - James V Lavery
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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10
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Limongi JE, Costa LCGP, Perissato IL, Giorgiani M, Rocha MB, Faria LFD, Valente HCO, Oliveira SV. Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning visceral leishmaniasis among residents of a sporadic transmission area in southeast Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:644-652. [PMID: 33037433 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last four decades, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has undergone an urbanization process in Brazil. This research aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning VL among residents of a sporadic transmission urban area in southeast Brazil. METHODS A community-based, cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted. Scores for knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning VL were evaluated and the bivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS The analysis indicated that 29.9% had good knowledge, 5.2% had appropriate attitudes and 62.1% had appropriate practices. Notwithstanding that, pivotal practices for controlling VL had unsatisfactory individual frequencies. Good knowledge on VL was related to women, a higher level of education, a higher income, the place of residence and having pets. Appropriate attitudes were related to the place of residence. The practices had no significant associations with the sociodemographic and epidemiological variables. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that even in the area of disease transmission, knowledge on VL is very limited, including at the most basic level. In order to achieve effectiveness in actions against VL in Brazil, the participation of the affected communities is imperative, therefore popular health education interventions are necessary to improve the population's understanding of the disease and to avoid inappropriate attitudes and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean E Limongi
- Graduation course in Collective Health, Institute of Geography, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Luiz C G P Costa
- Technical School of Health, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Izabela L Perissato
- Graduation course in Collective Health, Institute of Geography, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Mariana Giorgiani
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Máyra B Rocha
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Larissa F D Faria
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Hiléia C O Valente
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
| | - Stefan V Oliveira
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38.400-902, Brazil
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11
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Amazigo UV, Leak SGA, Zoure HGM, Okoronkwo C, Diop Ly M, Isiyaku S, Crump A, Okeibunor JC, Boatin B. Community-directed distributors-The "foot soldiers" in the fight to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009088. [PMID: 33661903 PMCID: PMC7932156 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect hundreds of millions of people, predominantly in rural, often difficult-to-access areas, poorly served by national health services. Here, we review the contributions of 4.8 million community-directed distributors (CDDs) of medicines over 2 decades in 146,000 communities in 27 sub-Saharan African countries to control or eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF). We examine their role in the control of other NTDs, malaria, HIV/AIDS interventions, immunisation campaigns, and support to overstretched health service personnel. We are of the opinion that CDDs as community selected, trained, and experienced “foot soldiers,” some of whom were involved in the Ebola outbreak responses at the community level in Liberia, if retrained, can assist community leaders and support health workers (HWs) in the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. The review highlights the improved treatment coverage where there are women CDDs, the benefits and lessons from the work of CDDs, their long-term engagement, and the challenges they face in healthcare delivery. It underscores the value of utilising the CDD model for strong community engagement and recommends the model, with some review, to hasten the achievement of the NTD 2030 goal and assist the health system cope with evolving epidemics and other challenges. We propose that, based on the unprecedented progress made in the control of NTDs directly linked to community engagement and contributions of CDDs “foot soldiers,” they deserve regional and global recognition. We also suggest that the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international stakeholders promote policy and guidance for countries to adapt this model for the elimination of NTDs and to strengthen national health services. This will enhance the accomplishment of some Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 in sub-Saharan Africa. Community-directed distributors (CDDs), sometimes known as community health workers (CHWs), have proved to be critical in the delivery of medicines and other tools for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), prevention of malaria, and other beneficial health interventions. The distributors are the unsung heroes and heroines without whom the health of hundreds of thousands of communities in rural Africa would be worse than it is today. In this paper, we document more than 2 decades (1997–2019) of the contributions of 146,000 communities and 4.8 million CDDs of medicines for NTDs, unpaid or minimally compensated, some have provided 18 years of uninterrupted service. We report on the burden of work and their perspectives of the challenges involved in mass drug administration (MDA) across 27 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We suggest that they have not been adequately recognised and that harnessing such community human resources could contribute to improving health system’s responses to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. We recommend policy measures for a wider application of existing networks of CDDs by countries’ health systems to consolidate and accelerate the achievements made as well as for the attainment of the goals set forth in the newly developed World Health Organization (WHO) NTD Roadmap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uche V. Amazigo
- African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, Enugu, Nigeria
- * E-mail:
| | - Stephen G. A. Leak
- African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Boakye Boatin
- Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa, World Health Organization, Accra, Ghana
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12
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Progress towards onchocerciasis elimination in Côte d'Ivoire: A geospatial modelling study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009091. [PMID: 33566805 PMCID: PMC7875389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Côte d’Ivoire has had 45 years of intervention for onchocerciasis by vector control (from 1975 to 1991), ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) (from 1992 to 1994) and community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi) from 1995 to the present. We modeled onchocerciasis endemicity during two time periods that correspond to the scale up of vector control and ivermectin distribution, respectively. This analysis illustrates progress towards elimination during these periods, and it has identified potential hotspots areas that are at risk for ongoing transmission. Methods and findings The analysis used Ministry of Health skin snip microfilaria (MF) prevalence and intensity data collected between 1975 and 2016. Socio-demographic and environmental factors were incorporated into a predictive, machine learning algorithm to create continuous maps of onchocerciasis endemicity. Overall predicted mean MF prevalence decreased from 51.8% circa 1991 to 3.9% circa 2016. The model predicted infection foci with higher prevalence in the southern region of the country. Predicted mean community MF load (CMFL) decreased from 10.1MF/snip circa 1991 to 0.1MF/snip circa 2016. Again, the model predicts foci with higher Mf densities in the southern region. For assessing model performance, the root mean squared error and R2 values were 1.14 and 0.62 respectively for a model trained with data collected prior to 1991, and 1.28 and 0.57 for the model trained with infection survey data collected later, after the introduction of ivermectin. Finally, our models show that proximity to permanent inland bodies of water and altitude were the most informative variables that correlated with onchocerciasis endemicity. Conclusion/Significance This study further documents the significant reduction of onchocerciasis infection following widespread use of ivermectin for onchocerciasis control in Côte d’Ivoire. Maps produced predict areas at risk for ongoing infection and transmission. Onchocerciasis might be eliminated in Côte d’Ivoire in the future with a combination of sustained CDTi with high coverage, active surveillance, and close monitoring for persistent infection in previously hyper-endemic areas. Côte d’Ivoire is endemic for onchocerciasis (also known as “river blindness”). This neglected tropical disease is transmitted by biting black flies that breed in fast flowing rivers. From 1975 to 1991, onchocerciasis control was based on weekly aerial spraying of the insecticide temephos, on black fly breeding sites. Vector control, however, was mostly focused on the northern and central parts of the country. From 1992 to present, mass treatment with ivermectin was implemented in all endemic areas, including forested regions in the south. Here we present the first geospatial estimates of onchocerciasis endemicity over time. Using the machine learning algorithm quantile regression forest, we implemented models to: identify important socio-demographic and environmental factors that correlate with onchocerciasis infection; predict the prevalence and density of infection in areas without ground-truth data; delineate remaining infection hotspots. Our results show that Côte d’Ivoire has made very significant progress in reducing infection parameters over time, and they may help to inform future interventions to achieve the goal of onchocerciasis elimination in Côte d’Ivoire.
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13
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Krentel A, Gyapong M, McFarland DA, Ogundahunsi O, Titaley CR, Addiss DG. Keeping communities at the centre of efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: learning from the past to reach a future free of lymphatic filariasis. Int Health 2021; 13:S55-S59. [PMID: 33349882 PMCID: PMC7753171 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihaa086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the launch of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) in 2000, more than 910 million people have received preventive chemotherapy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) and many thousands have received care for chronic manifestations of the disease. To achieve this, millions of community drug distributors (CDDs), community members and health personnel have worked together each year to ensure that at-risk communities receive preventive chemotherapy through mass drug administration (MDA). The successes of 20 y of partnership with communities is celebrated, including the application of community-directed treatment, the use of CDDs and integration with other platforms to improve community access to healthcare. Important challenges facing the GPELF moving forward towards 2030 relate to global demographic, financing and programmatic changes. New innovations in research and practice present opportunities to encourage further community partnership to achieve the elimination of LF as a public health problem. We stress the critical need for community ownership in the current Covid-19 pandemic, to counter concerns in relaunching MDA programmes for LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Krentel
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Canada K1G 5Z3.,Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa K1R 6M1, Canada
| | - Margaret Gyapong
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | | | | | - Christiana R Titaley
- Faculty of Medicine, Pattimura University, Maluku Province, Ambon 97233 Indonesia
| | - David G Addiss
- Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics (FACE), The Task Force for Global Health, Atlanta 30030 USA
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14
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Collateral Impact of Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) for Onchocerciasis on Parasitological Indicators of Loa loa Infection. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9121043. [PMID: 33322724 PMCID: PMC7764802 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9121043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad spectrum endectocide whose initial indication was onchocerciasis. Although loiasis is not among its indications, IVM also exhibits antiparasitic activity against Loa loa. IVM-based preventive chemotherapies (PCs), so-called community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), have led to the interruption of transmission of onchocerciasis in some foci. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Yabassi Health District where CDTI have been implemented since 20 years to fight onchocerciasis. All volunteers aged ≥ 5 years underwent daytime calibrated thick blood smears to search for L. loa microfilariae (mf). The prevalence of loiasis was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.2-6.2), significantly lower than its baseline prevalence (12.4%; 95% CI: 10.1-15.2; Chi-Square = 21.4; df = 1; p < 0.0001). Similarly, the microfilarial density was significantly low (mean = 1.8 mf/mL; SD = 13.6; max = 73,600) compared to baseline microfilarial density (mean = 839.3 mf/mL; SD = 6447.1; max = 130,840; Wilcoxon W = 179,904.5; p < 0.0001). This study revealed that the endemicity level of loiasis was significantly low compared to its baseline value, indicating a significant impact of IVM-based PC on this filarial disease. However, transmission is still ongoing, and heavily infected individuals are still found in communities, supporting why some individuals are still experiencing severe adverse events despite > 2 decades of CDTI in this Health District.
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15
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Molyneux DH, Aboe A, Isiyaku S, Bush S. COVID-19 and neglected tropical diseases in Africa: impacts, interactions, consequences. Int Health 2020; 12:367-372. [PMID: 32725145 PMCID: PMC7443717 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihaa040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David H Molyneux
- Emeritus Professor, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Agatha Aboe
- Global Trachoma Coordinator, Sightsavers, PO Box KIA 18190, Airport, Accra, Ghana
| | - Sunday Isiyaku
- Country Director Ghana and Nigeria, Sightsavers, 1 Golf Course Road, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Simon Bush
- Director, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Sightsavers, PO Box KIA 18190, Airport, Accra, Ghana
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16
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Kamgno J, Tchatchueng-Mbougua JB, Nana-Djeunga HC, Esso L, Zouré HG, Mackenzie CD, Boussinesq M. Community-based door to door census of suspected people living with epilepsy: empowering community drug distributors to improve the provision of care to rural communities in Cameroon. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:871. [PMID: 32503495 PMCID: PMC7275343 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08997-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epilepsy is a severe neurological disorder with huge psychological, social, and economic consequences, including premature deaths and loss of productivity. Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest burden of epilepsy. The management of epilepsy in Cameroon remains unsatisfactory due to poor identification of cases and a limited knowledge of the distribution of the disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether community drug distributors (CDDs) - volunteers selected by their communities to distribute ivermectin against onchocerciasis and who have been proven efficient to deliver other health interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria, vitamin A tablets, and albendazole to treat soil transmitted helminthiasis - can be used to reliably identify people living with epilepsy to promote better management of cases. Methods This study was carried out in three health Districts in Cameroon. An exhaustive house to house census was carried out by trained CDDs under the supervision of local nurses. In each household, all suspected cases of epilepsy were identified. In each health district, five communities were randomly selected for a second census by trained health personnel (research team). The results of the two censuses were compared for verification purposes. Results A total of 53,005 people was registered in the 190 communities surveyed with 794 (1.4%) individuals identified as suspected cases of epilepsy (SCE) by the CDDs. In the 15 communities where the SCE census was verified, the average ratio between the number of suspected cases of epilepsy reported in a community by the research team and that reported by the CDDs was 1.1; this ratio was < 0.8 and > 1.2 in 6 communities. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that CDDs, who are present in about 200,000 communities in 31 Sub Saharan African countries where onchocerciasis is endemic, can be successfully used to assess epilepsy prevalence, and therefore map epilepsy in many African countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kamgno
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon. .,Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
| | - Jules B Tchatchueng-Mbougua
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Service d'épidémiologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Membre du Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Hugues C Nana-Djeunga
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Lynda Esso
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Honorat G Zouré
- Expanded Special Project for Elimination of NTDs (ESPEN), World Health Organization, African Regional Office, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - Charles D Mackenzie
- Filarial Programmes Support Unit (FPSU), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Michel Boussinesq
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMI233/ INSERM U1175/ Université de Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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17
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Turner HC, Toor J, Bettis AA, Hopkins AD, Kyaw SS, Onwujekwe O, Thwaites GE, Lubell Y, Fitzpatrick C. Valuing the Unpaid Contribution of Community Health Volunteers to Mass Drug Administration Programs. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 68:1588-1595. [PMID: 30169566 PMCID: PMC6481994 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Community health volunteers (CHVs) are being used within a growing number of healthcare interventions, and they have become a cornerstone for the delivery of mass drug administration within many neglected tropical disease control programs. However, a greater understanding of the methods used to value the unpaid time CHVs contribute to healthcare programs is needed. We outline the two main approaches used to value CHVs’ unpaid time (the opportunity cost and the replacement cost approaches). We found that for mass drug administration programs the estimates of the economic costs relating to the CHVs’ unpaid time can be significant, with the averages of the different studies varying between US$0.05 and $0.16 per treatment. We estimated that the time donated by CHVs’ to the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control alone would be valued between US$60 and $90 million. There is a need for greater transparency and consistency in the methods used to value CHVs’ unpaid time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo C Turner
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford
| | - Jaspreet Toor
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London.,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London
| | - Alison A Bettis
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London.,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London
| | | | - Shwe Sin Kyaw
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Obinna Onwujekwe
- Department of Health Administration and Management, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus.,Health Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Guy E Thwaites
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford
| | - Yoel Lubell
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.,Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Christopher Fitzpatrick
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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18
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Diggle PJ, Giorgi E, Atsame J, Ella SN, Ogoussan K, Gass K. A Tale of Two Parasites: Statistical Modelling to Support Disease Control Programmes in Africa. Stat Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1214/19-sts738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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19
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Macfarlane CL, Dean L, Thomson R, Garner P. Community drug distributors for mass drug administration in neglected tropical disease programmes: systematic review and analysis of policy documents. J Glob Health 2019; 9:020414. [PMID: 31662849 PMCID: PMC6790237 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.09.020414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mass drug administration (MDA) programmes for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) depend on voluntary community drug distributors (CDDs) to deliver drugs, and these volunteer schemes need regular training and supervision. NTD policy now includes integration of multiple disease programmes, but we are unsure if there is clarity in what is currently expected of CDDs and how they are managed. We therefore analysed World Health Organization (WHO) policy, strategy and implementation guidance, and select national NTD programme implementation plans. Methods Included are a) WHO global and WHO-Regional Office for Africa guidelines, strategies, operational manuals and meeting reports published between January 2007 to February 2018 that included policy and plans for CDDs; and b) national NTD programme master plans for Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. For both review components, we examined the CDD responsibilities through a framework developed iteratively against the documents and prepared a narrative synthesis. Results Twenty WHO policy documents met the inclusion criteria. In the twelve global and eight regional documents, the CDD role was not explicitly or comprehensively defined. Three documents mentioned CDDs will distribute drugs; some mentioned health promotion, data handling and engagement in clinical care. Four WHO documents noted a need for CDD training or management, eight detailed some aspect of this, and one regional document provided a comprehensive overview. In the national plans, additional responsibilities included case management in two countries and transmission control in two countries. Every plan included training and supervision, but this was not always explicit, and details of the purpose and frequency varied. In all national plans, CDD motivation was identified as a challenge but not comprehensively addressed, although one document mentioned provision of bicycles. Conclusions WHO and national policies and plans assume CDDs will implement NTD programmes. However, there is almost no clear delineation of responsibilities, nor is there up-to-date practical guidance to guide managers. This ambiguity, in relation to the lack of explicit policies or programmatic guidance, probably impairs the effectiveness of NTD programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara L Macfarlane
- Centre for Evidence Synthesis in Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rachael Thomson
- Department for Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paul Garner
- Centre for Evidence Synthesis in Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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20
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The division of labour between community medicine distributors influences the reach of mass drug administration: A cross-sectional study in rural Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007685. [PMID: 31483784 PMCID: PMC6726135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite decades of community-based mass drug administration (MDA) for neglected tropical diseases, it remains an open question as to what constitutes the best combination of community medicine distributors (CMDs) for achieving high (>65%/75%) treatment rates within a village. Methods Routine community-based MDA was evaluated in Mayuge District, Uganda. For one month, we tracked 6,148 individuals aged 1+ years in 1,118 households from 28 villages. Praziquantel, albendazole, and ivermectin were distributed to treat Schistosoma mansoni, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminths. The similarity/diversity between CMDs was observed and used to predict the division of labour and overall village treatment rates. The division of labour was calculated by dividing the lowest treatment rate by the highest treatment rate achieved by two CMDs within a village. CMD similarity was measured for 16 characteristics including friendship network overlap, demographic and socioeconomic factors, methods of CMD selection, and years as CMD. Relevant variables for MDA outcomes were selected through least absolute shrinkage and selection operators with leave-one-out cross validation. Final models were run with ordinary least squares regression and robust standard errors. Results The percentage of individuals treated with at least one drug varied across villages from 2.79–89.74%. The only significant predictor (p-value<0.05) of village treatment rates was the division of labour. The estimated difference between a perfectly equal (a 50–50 split of individuals treated) and unequal (one CMD treating no one) division of labour was 39.69%. A direct tie (close friendship) between CMDs was associated with a nearly twofold more equitable distribution of labour when compared to CMDs without a direct tie. Conclusions An equitable distribution of labour between CMDs may be essential for achieving treatment targets of 65%/75% within community-based MDA. To improve the effectiveness of CMDs, national programmes should explore interventions that seek to facilitate communication, friendship, and equal partnership between CMDs. Community-based mass drug administration (MDA) uses volunteers within at-risk communities to distribute preventive chemotherapies en masse for neglected tropical diseases. Treatment rates achieved by community medicine distributors (CMDs) vary widely and can undermine morbidity control. We studied routine community-based MDA in 28 villages near Lake Victoria in Uganda. There were two CMDs per village who were tasked with moving from home-to-home to administer praziquantel, albendazole, and ivermectin for schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminths. We observed treatment outcomes for 6,148 eligible individuals aged 1+ years. Here we identified the best combination of CMD characteristics for achieving high village-level treatment rates. We found that a more equal division of labour (e.g. 50–50 split between how many people each CMD treated) was associated with higher treatment rates when compared to CMDs with an unequal division of labour (e.g. one CMD treating no one). CMDs who were friends were more likely to have a division of labour that was nearly twofold more equal than CMDs who were not friends. The similarity of CMDs with respect to network, demographic, or socioeconomic characteristics did not influence village treatment rates. National programmes should explore interventions that seek to facilitate communication, friendship, and equal partnership between CMDs.
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Do Communities Really "Direct" in Community-Directed Interventions? A Qualitative Assessment of Beneficiaries' Perceptions at 20 Years of Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin in Cameroon. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019; 4:tropicalmed4030105. [PMID: 31311093 PMCID: PMC6789878 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4030105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in Cameroon after 20 years of implementation of the Community Directed Treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) strategy, revealed mixed results as regards community ownership. This brings into question the feasibility of Community Directed Interventions (CDI) in the country. We carried out qualitative surveys in 3 health districts of Cameroon, consisting of 11 individual interviews and 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with specific community members. The main topic discussed during individual interviews and FGDs was about community participation in health. We found an implementation gap in CDTI between the process theory in the 3 health districts. Despite this gap, community eagerness for health information and massive personal and financial adhesion to interventions that were perceived important, were indicators of CDI feasibility. The concept of CDI is culturally feasible in rural and semi-urban settlements, but many challenges hinder its actual implementation. In the view of community participation as a process rather than an intervention, these challenges include real dialogue with communities as partners, dialogue and advocacy with operational level health staff, and macroeconomic and political reforms in health, finance and other associated sectors.
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Turner HC, Walker M, Pion SDS, McFarland DA, Bundy DAP, Basáñez M. Economic evaluations of onchocerciasis interventions: a systematic review and research needs. Trop Med Int Health 2019; 24:788-816. [PMID: 31013395 PMCID: PMC6617745 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a systematic review of economic evaluations that has been conducted for onchocerciasis interventions, to summarise current key knowledge and to identify research gaps. METHOD A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the 8th of August 2018 using the PubMed (MEDLINE) and ISI Web of Science electronic databases. No date or language stipulations were applied to the searches. RESULTS We identified 14 primary studies reporting the results of economic evaluations of onchocerciasis interventions, seven of which were cost-effectiveness analyses. The studies identified used a variety of different approaches to estimate the costs of the investigated interventions/programmes. Originally, the studies only quantified the benefits associated with preventing blindness. Gradually, methods improved and also captured onchocerciasis-associated skin disease. Studies found that eliminating onchocerciasis would generate billions in economic benefits. The majority of the cost-effectiveness analyses evaluated annual mass drug administration (MDA). The estimated cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted of annual MDA varies between US$3 and US$30 (cost year variable). CONCLUSIONS The cost benefit and cost effectiveness of onchocerciasis interventions have consistently been found to be very favourable. This finding provides strong evidential support for the ongoing efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis from endemic areas. Although these results are very promising, there are several important research gaps that need to be addressed as we move towards the 2020 milestones and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo C. Turner
- Oxford University Clinical Research UnitWellcome Africa Asia ProgrammeHo Chi Minh CityVietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global HealthNuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Martin Walker
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease ResearchDepartment of Pathobiology and Population SciencesRoyal Veterinary CollegeHatfieldUK
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease ResearchDepartment of Infectious Disease EpidemiologySchool of Public HealthImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Sébastien D. S. Pion
- Institut de Recherche pour le DéveloppementUMI 233‐INSERMU1175‐Montpellier UniversityMontpellierFrance
| | | | | | - María‐Gloria Basáñez
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease ResearchDepartment of Infectious Disease EpidemiologySchool of Public HealthImperial College LondonLondonUK
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease AnalysisDepartment of Infectious Disease EpidemiologySchool of Public HealthImperial College LondonLondonUK
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Rebollo MP, Zoure H, Ogoussan K, Sodahlon Y, Ottesen EA, Cantey PT. Onchocerciasis: shifting the target from control to elimination requires a new first-step-elimination mapping. Int Health 2019; 10:i14-i19. [PMID: 29471341 PMCID: PMC5881272 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihx052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The meaning of 'mapping' in relation to onchocerciasis has changed at least three times over the past 50 years as the programmatic goals and the assessment tools have changed. With the current goal being global elimination of Onchocerca volvulus (OV), all areas where OV might currently be transmitted and where mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin treatment has not been delivered previously must now be identified by careful, detailed 'elimination mapping' as either OV endemic or not, so that appropriate programmatic targets can be established. New tools and strategies for such elimination mapping have become available, though ongoing studies must still be completed to define agreed upon optimal diagnostic evaluation units, sampling strategies and serologic tools. With detailed guidance and technical support from the World Health Organization and with implementation and financial support from their global partners, the OV-endemic countries of Africa can soon complete their elimination mapping and then continue with MDA programmes to progressively achieve the same success in OV elimination as that already achieved by the growing list of formerly OV-endemic countries in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Rebollo
- Expanded Special Project for Elimination of NTDs, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Honorat Zoure
- Expanded Special Project for Elimination of NTDs, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Kisito Ogoussan
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | - Yao Sodahlon
- Mectizan Donation Program, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | - Eric A Ottesen
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
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Pasay CJ, Yakob L, Meredith HR, Stewart R, Mills PC, Dekkers MH, Ong O, Llewellyn S, Hugo RLE, McCarthy JS, Devine GJ. Treatment of pigs with endectocides as a complementary tool for combating malaria transmission by Anopheles farauti (s.s.) in Papua New Guinea. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:124. [PMID: 30890165 PMCID: PMC6423892 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3392-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Outdoor, early-biting, zoophagic behaviours by Anopheles farauti (s.s.) can compromise the effectiveness of bed nets for malaria control. In the Western Pacific region, pigs and dogs represent significant alternative blood sources for mosquitoes. Treating these animals with endectocides may impact mosquito survival and complement control measures. This hypothesis was explored using membrane feeding assays (MFAs), direct feeds on treated pigs, pharmacokinetic analyses and a transmission model. Results Ivermectin was 375-fold more mosquitocidal than moxidectin (24 h LC50 = 17.8 ng/ml vs 6.7 µg/ml) in MFAs, and reduced mosquito fecundity by > 50% at ≥ 5 ng/ml. Treatment of pigs with subcutaneous doses of 0.6 mg/kg ivermectin caused 100% mosquito mortality 8 days after administration. Lethal effects persisted for up to 15 days after administration (75% death within 10 days). Conclusion The application of these empirical data to a unique malaria transmission model that used a three-host system (humans, pigs and dogs) predicts that the application of ivermectin will cause a significant reduction in the entomological inoculation rate (EIR = 100 to 0.35). However, this is contingent on local malaria vectors sourcing a significant proportion of their blood meals from pigs. This provides significant insights on the benefits of deploying endectocides alongside long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) to address residual malaria transmission. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3392-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cielo J Pasay
- Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.
| | - Laith Yakob
- Department of Disease Control, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, London, UK
| | - Hannah R Meredith
- Department of Disease Control, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, London, UK
| | - Romal Stewart
- Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul C Mills
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Milou H Dekkers
- Queensland Animal Science Precinct, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Oselyne Ong
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Stacey Llewellyn
- Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - R Leon E Hugo
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - James S McCarthy
- Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.
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Chami GF, Kontoleon AA, Bulte E, Fenwick A, Kabatereine NB, Tukahebwa EM, Dunne DW. Community-directed mass drug administration is undermined by status seeking in friendship networks and inadequate trust in health advice networks. Soc Sci Med 2017; 183:37-47. [PMID: 28458073 PMCID: PMC5446315 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Over 1.9 billion individuals require preventive chemotherapy through mass drug administration (MDA). Community-directed MDA relies on volunteer community medicine distributors (CMDs) and their achievement of high coverage and compliance. Yet, it is unknown if village social networks influence effective MDA implementation by CMDs. In Mayuge District, Uganda, census-style surveys were conducted for 16,357 individuals from 3,491 households in 17 villages. Praziquantel, albendazole, and ivermectin were administered for one month in community-directed MDA to treat Schistosoma mansoni, hookworm, and lymphatic filariasis. Self-reported treatment outcomes, socioeconomic characteristics, friendship networks, and health advice networks were collected. We investigated systematically missed coverage and noncompliance. Coverage was defined as an eligible person being offered at least one drug by CMDs; compliance included ingesting at least one of the offered drugs. These outcomes were analyzed as a two-stage process using a Heckman selection model. To further assess if MDA through CMDs was working as intended, we examined the probability of accurate drug administration of 1) praziquantel, 2) both albendazole and ivermectin, and 3) all drugs. This analysis was conducted using bivariate Probit regression. Four indicators from each social network were examined: degree, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, and the presence of a direct connection to CMDs. All models accounted for nested household and village standard errors. CMDs were more likely to offer medicines, and to accurately administer the drugs as trained by the national control programme, to individuals with high friendship degree (many connections) and high friendship closeness centrality (households that were only a short number of steps away from all other households in the network). Though high (88.59%), additional compliance was associated with directly trusting CMDs for health advice. Effective treatment provision requires addressing CMD biases towards influential, well-embedded individuals in friendship networks and utilizing health advice networks to increase village trust in CMDs. Evaluation of mass drug administration implementation using social networks. Evidence of social biases and status-seeking from community medicine distributors. Coverage and compliance with mass drug administration for 16,357 individuals. Impact of friendship and health advice networks on treatment probability. Overlap of network status and formal social status in rural villages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goylette F Chami
- Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9EP, United Kingdom; Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom.
| | - Andreas A Kontoleon
- Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9EP, United Kingdom
| | - Erwin Bulte
- Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9EP, United Kingdom; Development Economics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6706 KN, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Fenwick
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Narcis B Kabatereine
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Uganda Ministry of Health, Vector Control Division, Bilharzia and Worm Control Programme, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Edridah M Tukahebwa
- Uganda Ministry of Health, Vector Control Division, Bilharzia and Worm Control Programme, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David W Dunne
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
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Bangert M, Molyneux DH, Lindsay SW, Fitzpatrick C, Engels D. The cross-cutting contribution of the end of neglected tropical diseases to the sustainable development goals. Infect Dis Poverty 2017; 6:73. [PMID: 28372566 PMCID: PMC5379574 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for an integrated response, the kind that has defined Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) efforts in the past decade.NTD interventions have the greatest relevance for SDG3, the health goal, where the focus on equity, and its commitment to reaching people in need of health services, wherever they may live and whatever their circumstances, is fundamentally aligned with the target of Universal Health Coverage. NTD interventions, however, also affect and are affected by many of the other development areas covered under the 2030 Agenda. Strategies such as mass drug administration or the programmatic integration of NTD and WASH activities (SDG6) are driven by effective global partnerships (SDG17). Intervention against the NTDs can also have an impact on poverty (SDG1) and hunger (SDG2), can improve education (SDG4), work and economic growth (SDG8), thereby reducing inequalities (SDG10). The community-led distribution of donated medicines to more than 1 billion people reinforces women's empowerment (SDG5), logistics infrastructure (SDG9) and non-discrimination against disability (SDG16). Interventions to curb mosquito-borne NTDs contribute to the goals of urban sustainability (SDG11) and resilience to climate change (SDG13), while the safe use of insecticides supports the goal of sustainable ecosystems (SDG15). Although indirectly, interventions to control water- and animal-related NTDs can facilitate the goals of small-scale fishing (SDG14) and sustainable hydroelectricity and biofuels (SDG7).NTDs proliferate in less developed areas in countries across the income spectrum, areas where large numbers of people have little or no access to adequate health care, clean water, sanitation, housing, education, transport and information. This scoping review assesses how in this context, ending the epidemic of the NTDs can impact and improve our prospects of attaining the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Bangert
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David H. Molyneux
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Christopher Fitzpatrick
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Engels
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Odhiambo GO, Musuva RM, Odiere MR, Mwinzi PN. Experiences and perspectives of community health workers from implementing treatment for schistosomiasis using the community directed intervention strategy in an informal settlement in Kisumu City, western Kenya. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:986. [PMID: 27634152 PMCID: PMC5025566 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3662-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Community Directed Intervention (CDI) strategy has been used to conduct various health interventions in Africa, including control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Although the CDI approach has shown good results in the control of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis with respect to treatment coverage using community drug distributors, its utility in the control of schistosomiasis among urban poor is yet to be established. Using a longitudinal qualitative study, we explored the experiences, opportunities, challenges as well as recommendations of Community Health Workers (CHWs) after participation in annual mass drug administration (MDA) activities for schistosomiasis using the CDI approach in an urban setting. Methods Unstructured open-ended group discussions were conducted with CHWs after completion of annual MDA activities. Narratives were obtained from CHWs using a digital audio recorder during the group discussions, transcribed verbatim and translated into English where applicable. Thematic decomposition of data was done using ATLAS.ti. software, and themes explored using the principle of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results From the perspective of the CHWs, opportunities for implementing CDI in urban settings, included the presence of CHWs, their supervisory structures and their knowledge of intervention areas, and opportunity to integrate MDA with other health interventions. Several challenges were mentioned with regards to implementing MDA using the CDI strategy among them lack of incentives, fear of side effects, misconceptions regarding treatment and mistrust, difficulties working in unsanitary environmental conditions, insecurity, and insufficient time. A key recommendation in promoting more effective MDA using the CDI approach was allocation of more time to the exercise. Conclusion Findings from this study support the feasibility of using CDI for implementing MDA for schistosomiasis in informal settlements of urban areas. Extensive community sensitization and provision of incentives may help address the aforementioned challenges associated with implementing MDA using the CDI strategy. Opportunities highlighted in this study may be of value to other programmes that may be considering the adoption of the CDI strategy for rolling out interventions in the urban setting. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3662-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys O Odhiambo
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Branch, Centre for Global Health, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P. O. Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Rosemary M Musuva
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Branch, Centre for Global Health, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P. O. Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Maurice R Odiere
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Branch, Centre for Global Health, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P. O. Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya.
| | - Pauline N Mwinzi
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Branch, Centre for Global Health, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P. O. Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
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DILEMMAS OF COMMUNITY-DIRECTED MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS CONTROL: A QUALITATIVE STUDY FROM URBAN AND RURAL TANZANIA. J Biosoc Sci 2016; 49:447-462. [PMID: 27470198 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932016000365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
There has in recent years been a growing interest in the social significance of global health policy and associated interventions. This paper is concerned with neglected tropical disease control, which prescribes annual mass drug administration to interrupt transmission of, among others, lymphatic filariasis. In Tanzania, this intervention is conducted through community-directed distribution, which aims to improve drug uptake by promoting community participation and local ownership in the intervention. However, the average uptake of drugs often remains too low to achieve the intended interruption of transmission. The qualitative research presented here followed the implementation of mass drug administration in Lindi and Morogoro Regions, Tanzania, in 2011 to understand the different forms of involvement in the campaign and the experiences of stakeholders of their part in community-directed distribution. Some health care workers, community leaders and drug distributors were generally positive about the intervention, emphasizing that the drugs were welcome. Other stakeholders, including the drug-receiving population, reported facing a number of dilemmas of uncertainty, authority and exclusion pertaining to their roles in the intervention. These dilemmas should be of interest to donors, policymakers and implementers. Community-directed distribution relies on social relations between the many different stakeholders. Successful and justifiable interventions for lymphatic filariasis require implementers to recognize the central role of sociality and that the voices and priorities of people count.
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Theobald S, MacPherson E, McCollum R, Tolhurst R. Close to community health providers post 2015: Realising their role in responsive health systems and addressing gendered social determinants of health. BMC Proc 2015; 9:S8. [PMID: 28281706 PMCID: PMC4699124 DOI: 10.1186/1753-6561-9-s10-s8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Universal health coverage is gaining momentum and is likely to form a core part of the post Millennium Development Goal (MDG) agenda and be linked to social determinants of health, including gender; Close to community health providers are arguably key players in meeting the goal of universal health coverage through extending and delivering health services to poor and marginalised groups; Close to community health providers are embedded in communities and may therefore be strategically placed to understand intra household gender and power dynamics and how social determinants shape health and well-being. However, the opportunities to develop critical awareness and to translate this knowledge into health system and multi-sectoral action are poorly understood; Enabling close to community health providers to realise their potential requires health systems support and human resource management at multiple levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Theobald
- International Public Health Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Eleanor MacPherson
- International Public Health Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rosalind McCollum
- International Public Health Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rachel Tolhurst
- International Public Health Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
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Kaatano GM, Siza JE, Mwanga JR, Min DY, Yong TS, Chai JY, Ko Y, Chang SY, Kullaya CM, Rim HJ, Changalucha JM, Eom KS. Integrated Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Control over Five Years on Kome Island, Tanzania. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2015; 53:535-43. [PMID: 26537032 PMCID: PMC4635827 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Integrated control strategies are important for sustainable control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, despite their challenges for their effective implementation. With the support of Good Neighbors International in collaboration with National Institute of Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, integrated control applying mass drug administration (MDA), health education using PHAST, and improved safe water supply has been implemented on Kome Island over 5 years for controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Baseline surveys for schistosomiasis and STHs was conducted before implementation of any integrated control strategies, followed by 4 cross-sectional follow-up surveys on randomly selected samples of schoolchildren and adults in 10 primary schools and 8 villages, respectively, on Kome islands. Those follow-up surveys were conducted for impact evaluation after introduction of control strategies interventions in the study area. Five rounds of MDA have been implemented from 2009 along with PHAST and improved water supply with pumped wells as other control strategies for complementing MDA. A remarkable steady decline of schistosomiasis and STHs was observed from 2009 to 2012 with significant trends in their prevalence decline, and thereafter infection rate has remained at a low sustainable control. By the third follow-up survey in 2012, Schistosoma mansoni infection prevalence was reduced by 90.5% and hookworm by 93.3% among schoolchildren while in adults the corresponding reduction was 83.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Integrated control strategies have successfully reduced S. mansoni and STH infection status to a lower level. This study further suggests that monitoring and evaluation is a crucial component of any large-scale STH and schistosomiasis intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey M Kaatano
- National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Julius E Siza
- National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Joseph R Mwanga
- National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Duk-Yong Min
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea
| | - Tai-Soon Yong
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Institute of Tropical Medicine and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jong-Yil Chai
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Yunsuk Ko
- Good Neighbors International, Tanzania Western Chapter, P.O. Box 367, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Su Young Chang
- Good Neighbors International, Tanzania Western Chapter, P.O. Box 367, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Cyril M Kullaya
- Good Neighbors International, Tanzania Western Chapter, P.O. Box 367, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Han-Jong Rim
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - John M Changalucha
- National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Keeseon S Eom
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute and Parasite Resource Bank, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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Brieger WR, Sommerfeld JU, Amazigo UV. The Potential for Community-Directed Interventions: Reaching Underserved Populations in Africa. INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION 2015; 35:295-316. [PMID: 26470395 DOI: 10.1177/0272684x15592757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Community-directed interventions (CDIs) have the potential for fulfilling the promise of primary health care by reaching underserved populations in various settings. CDI has been successfully tested by expanding access to additional health services like malaria case management through local effort in communities where ivermectin distribution is ongoing. The question remains whether the CDI approach has potential in communities that do not have a foundation of community-directed treatment with ivermectin. The UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Program of Research and Training in Tropical Diseases commissioned three sets of formative studies to explore the potential for introducing CDI among nomads, urban poor, and rural areas with no community-directed treatment with ivermectin. This article reviews their findings. Community and health system respondents identified a set of mainly communicable diseases that could be adapted to CDI as well as participatory mechanisms like community-based organizations and leaders that could form a foundation for local organizing and participation. It is hoped that the results of these formative studies will spur further research on CDI among peoples with poor health-care access.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Brieger
- Department of International Health, Health System Program, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Johannes U Sommerfeld
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Uche V Amazigo
- African Program for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
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Stanton MC, Mkwanda SZ, Debrah AY, Batsa L, Biritwum NK, Hoerauf A, Cliffe M, Best A, Molineux A, Kelly-Hope LA. Developing a community-led SMS reporting tool for the rapid assessment of lymphatic filariasis morbidity burden: case studies from Malawi and Ghana. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:214. [PMID: 25981497 PMCID: PMC4455607 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-0946-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lymphoedema and hydrocoele are the two most common clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis (LF). In order to effectively target morbidity management strategies, more information is rapidly needed on morbidity burden across all endemic countries. The purpose of this study was to develop and test an SMS tool (MeasureSMS) which enables trained community-based health workers to report basic information on all cases they identified. Methods The tool was trialled in Chikwawa district, Malawi and Ahanta West district, Ghana in 2014. Salaried health surveillance assistants (HSAs) identified and reported cases in Malawi whereas volunteer community health workers (CHWs) were used in Ghana. Health workers were trained in recognising lymphoedema and hydrocoeles and submitting individual case data using MeasureSMS, after which they undertook a LF morbidity survey. After the reporting period, a random sample of reported cases was visited by a physician to verify the health workers’ diagnoses. The proportion of correctly diagnosed cases i.e. the positive predictive value (PPV) was then calculated. Results HSAs in Malawi successfully reported 256 unique cases by SMS from 107 communities (166 hydrocoele, 88 lymphoedema, 2 with both), resulting in an estimated adult prevalence of 17.7 per 10,000 and 33.0 per 10,000 for lymphoedema and hydrocoele respectively. In Ghana, despite being less experienced in using SMS, CHWs successfully reported 360 unique cases by SMS from 33 communities (169 hydrocoele, 185 lymphoedema, 6 with both), resulting in an estimated adult prevalence of 76.9 per 10,000 and 70.5 per 10,000 adults for lymphoedema and hydrocoele respectively. The verification exercise resulted in a PPV for lymphoedema and hydrocoele diagnosis of 90 % (n = 42, 95 % CI 76.5 – 96.9) and 92 % (n = 49, 95 % CI 79.5 – 97.4) in Malawi and 94 % (n = 34, 95 % CI 78.9 %–99.0 %) and 47 % (n = 59, 35.1 %–61.7 %) in Ghana, indicating that non-invasive methods for diagnosing hydrocoeles needed to be further emphasised. Conclusions The study concludes that given the appropriate education and tools, community-based health workers are exceptionally well-placed to participate in quantifying LF morbidity burden, and other NTDs with observable symptoms. This concept has the potential to enable national programmes to more effectively monitor their community impact in an efficient, timely and cost-effective way. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-015-0946-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C Stanton
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Square Z Mkwanda
- National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| | | | - Linda Batsa
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Nana-Kwadwo Biritwum
- National Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Ghana Health Service, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | | | - Matthew Cliffe
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Abigail Best
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | | | - Louise A Kelly-Hope
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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Lawrence J, Sodahlon YK, Ogoussan KT, Hopkins AD. Growth, Challenges, and Solutions over 25 Years of Mectizan and the Impact on Onchocerciasis Control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003507. [PMID: 25974081 PMCID: PMC4431881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joni Lawrence
- Mectizan Donation Program, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Yao K. Sodahlon
- Mectizan Donation Program, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Adrian D. Hopkins
- Mectizan Donation Program, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
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Smith EL, Mkwanda SZ, Martindale S, Kelly-Hope LA, Stanton MC. Lymphatic filariasis morbidity mapping: a comprehensive examination of lymphoedema burden in Chikwawa district, Malawi. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2014; 108:751-8. [PMID: 25282001 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/tru150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Managing lymphatic filariasis (LF) morbidity and reducing disability is one of the two primary goals of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. However, in order to achieve this, the geographical distribution of LF morbidity needs to be better estimated. METHODS All cases of lymphoedema within a single health centre catchment area (pop. 42 000) in the southern region of Malawi were examined. Maps of lymphoedema burden were produced and trends in patient demographics, severity of lymphoedema (Dreyer staging) and health-seeking behaviour were explored. The number of lymphoedema cases was compared with records maintained by the Ministry of Health, Malawi. RESULTS A total of 69 lymphoedema cases were identified (32 per 10 000 population), of which 48 (70%) were female and 21 (30%) male. The majority of cases (51/69) had Dreyer stage 2-3, and almost all (65/69) had experienced acute attacks as a result of their lymphoedema. This burden was much greater than that estimated by Ministry of Health (33 cases). CONCLUSIONS Current case detection methods underestimate the burden of lymphoedema in Malawi. There is a continued need to develop new LF morbidity identification and surveillance approaches to ensure that future morbidity management strategies are effectively targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Smith
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Square Z Mkwanda
- National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Sarah Martindale
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Louise A Kelly-Hope
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Michelle C Stanton
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
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Keating J, Yukich JO, Mollenkopf S, Tediosi F. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis prevention, treatment, and control costs across diverse settings: a systematic review. Acta Trop 2014; 135:86-95. [PMID: 24699086 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2013] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The control and eventual elimination of neglected tropical disease (NTD) requires the expansion of interventions such as mass drug administration (MDA), vector control, diagnostic testing, and effective treatment. The purpose of this paper is to present the evidence base for decision-makers on the cost and cost-effectiveness of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis prevention, treatment, and control. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted. All studies that contained primary or secondary data on costs or cost-effectiveness of prevention and control were considered. A total of 52 papers were included for LF and 24 papers were included for onchocerciasis. Large research gaps exist on the synergies and cost of integrating NTD prevention and control programs, as well as research on the role of health information systems, human resource systems, service delivery, and essential medicines and technology for elimination. The literature available on costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions is also generally older, extremely focal geographically and of limited usefulness for developing estimates of the global economic burden of these diseases and prioritizing among various intervention options. Up to date information on the costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions for LF and onchocerciasis prevention are needed given the vastly expanded funding base for the control and elimination of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Keating
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States; Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States.
| | - Joshua O Yukich
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States; Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States.
| | - Sarah Mollenkopf
- Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States.
| | - Fabrizio Tediosi
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4001 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland; Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Università Bocconi, Milan, Italy.
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Bockarie MJ, Taylor MJ, Gyapong JO. Current practices in the management of lymphatic filariasis. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 7:595-605. [DOI: 10.1586/eri.09.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Tediosi F, Steinmann P, de Savigny D, Tanner M. Developing eradication investment cases for onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and human African trypanosomiasis: rationale and main challenges. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2446. [PMID: 24244762 PMCID: PMC3820723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Tediosi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Don de Savigny
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Tanner
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Ndyomugyenyi R, Kabali AT. Community-directed interventions for integrated delivery of a health package against major health problems in rural Uganda: perceptions on the strategy and its effectiveness. Int Health 2013; 2:197-205. [PMID: 24037700 DOI: 10.1016/j.inhe.2010.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite growing interest at national and international levels to use community-directed interventions (CDI) for delivery of health interventions in Africa, inadequate information on its acceptability and effectiveness remains. This study aimed to examine community perceptions on CDI strategy and its effectiveness for integrated delivery of health interventions with different degrees of complexity (insecticide treated nets, vitamin A supplements to children, home management of malaria and direct observation treatment of tuberculosis), using community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) as an entry point, compared to conventional delivery channels. The interventions were implemented in an incremental manner and both qualitative and quantitative methods were used at evaluation, three years after implementation. Coverage was significantly higher in CDI arm, compared to conventional delivery channels for all interventions (P < 0.05), except for direct observation treatment of tuberculosis (P > 0.05). Community members expressed interest in CDI because it responds to their perceived health problems, actively engages them and improves access to health care services. CDI seemed to be appropriate for interventions that are relatively simple, intervention materials are available, the disease is perceived as a health problem affecting all sections of the community and can be easily integrated into their daily lives, and community structures with full community participation.
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Bockarie MJ, Kelly-Hope LA, Rebollo M, Molyneux DH. Preventive chemotherapy as a strategy for elimination of neglected tropical parasitic diseases: endgame challenges. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20120144. [PMID: 23798692 PMCID: PMC3720042 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Global efforts to address neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) were stimulated in January 2012 by the London declaration at which 22 partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO) and major pharmaceutical companies committed to sustaining and expanding NTD programmes to eliminate or eradicate 11 NTDs by 2020 to achieve the goals outlined in the recently published WHO road map. Here, we present the current context of preventive chemotherapy for some NTDs, and discuss the problems faced by programmes as they consider the 'endgame', such as difficulties of access to populations in post-conflict settings, limited human and financial resources, and the need to expand access to clean water and improved sanitation for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. In the case of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, ivermectin treatment carries a significant risk owing to serious adverse effects in some patients co-infected with the tropical eye worm Loa loa filariasis. We discuss the challenges of managing complex partnerships, and maintain advocacy messages for the continued support for elimination of these preventable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses J Bockarie
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
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Prospects of using Community Directed Intervention strategy in delivering health services among Fulani Nomads in Enugu State, Nigeria. Int J Equity Health 2013; 12:24. [PMID: 23566078 PMCID: PMC3648442 DOI: 10.1186/1475-9276-12-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Community Directed Interventions (CDI) strategy has proven effective in increasing access to health services in sedentary populations. It remains to be seen if CDI strategy is feasible among nomads given the dearth of demographic and medical data on the nomads. This study thus characterized the nomadic populations in Enugu State, Nigeria and outlined the potentials of implementing CDI among nomads. Study design and methods This exploratory study adopted qualitative methods. Forty focus group discussions (FGD) were held with members of 10 nomadic camps in 2 LGAs in Enugu State, as well as their host communities. Thirty in-depth interviews (IDIs) were held with leaders of nomadic camps and sedentary populations. Ten IDIs with traditional healers in the nomadic camps and 14 key informant interviews with health workers and programme officers were also conducted. Documents and maps were reviewed to ascertain the grazing routes of the nomads as well as existing health interventions in the area. Results Like sedentary populations, nomads have definable community structures with leaders and followers, which is amenable to implementation of CDI. Nomads move their cattle, in a definite pattern, in search of grass and water. In this movement, the old and vulnerable are left in the camps. The nomads suffer from immunization preventable health problems as their host communities. The priority health problems in relation to CDI include malaria, measles, anemia, and other vaccine preventable infections. However, unlike the sedentary populations, the nomads lack access to health interventions, due to the mutual avoidance between the nomads and the sedentary populations in terms of health services. The later consider the services as mainly theirs. The nomads, however, are desirous of the modern health services and often task themselves to access these modern health services in private for profit health facilities when the need arises. Conclusion Given the definable organizational structure of the nomads in Enugu State and their desire for modern health intervention, it is feasible to test the CDI strategy for equitable healthcare delivery among nomads. They are willing and capable to participate actively in their own health programmes with minimal support from professional health workers.
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du Toit R, Faal HB, Etya'ale D, Wiafe B, Mason I, Graham R, Bush S, Mathenge W, Courtright P. Evidence for integrating eye health into primary health care in Africa: a health systems strengthening approach. BMC Health Serv Res 2013; 13:102. [PMID: 23506686 PMCID: PMC3616885 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The impact of unmet eye care needs in sub-Saharan Africa is compounded by barriers to accessing eye care, limited engagement with communities, a shortage of appropriately skilled health personnel, and inadequate support from health systems. The renewed focus on primary health care has led to support for greater integration of eye health into national health systems. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate available evidence of integration of eye health into primary health care in sub-Saharan Africa from a health systems strengthening perspective. Methods A scoping review method was used to gather and assess information from published literature, reviews, WHO policy documents and examples of eye and health care interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings were compiled using a health systems strengthening framework. Results Limited information is available about eye health from a health systems strengthening approach. Particular components of the health systems framework lacking evidence are service delivery, equipment and supplies, financing, leadership and governance. There is some information to support interventions to strengthen human resources at all levels, partnerships and community participation; but little evidence showing their successful application to improve quality of care and access to comprehensive eye health services at the primary health level, and referral to other levels for specialist eye care. Conclusion Evidence of integration of eye health into primary health care is currently weak, particularly when applying a health systems framework. A realignment of eye health in the primary health care agenda will require context specific planning and a holistic approach, with careful attention to each of the health system components and to the public health system as a whole. Documentation and evaluation of existing projects are required, as are pilot projects of systematic approaches to interventions and application of best practices. Multi-national research may provide guidance about how to scale up eye health interventions that are integrated into primary health systems.
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Halliday J, Daborn C, Auty H, Mtema Z, Lembo T, Bronsvoort BMD, Handel I, Knobel D, Hampson K, Cleaveland S. Bringing together emerging and endemic zoonoses surveillance: shared challenges and a common solution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 367:2872-80. [PMID: 22966142 PMCID: PMC3427560 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early detection of disease outbreaks in human and animal populations is crucial to the effective surveillance of emerging infectious diseases. However, there are marked geographical disparities in capacity for early detection of outbreaks, which limit the effectiveness of global surveillance strategies. Linking surveillance approaches for emerging and neglected endemic zoonoses, with a renewed focus on existing disease problems in developing countries, has the potential to overcome several limitations and to achieve additional health benefits. Poor reporting is a major constraint to the surveillance of both emerging and endemic zoonoses, and several important barriers to reporting can be identified: (i) a lack of tangible benefits when reports are made; (ii) a lack of capacity to enforce regulations; (iii) poor communication among communities, institutions and sectors; and (iv) complexities of the international regulatory environment. Redirecting surveillance efforts to focus on endemic zoonoses in developing countries offers a pragmatic approach that overcomes some of these barriers and provides support in regions where surveillance capacity is currently weakest. In addition, this approach addresses immediate health and development problems, and provides an equitable and sustainable mechanism for building the culture of surveillance and the core capacities that are needed for all zoonotic pathogens, including emerging disease threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Halliday
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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Mwinzi PNM, Montgomery SP, Owaga CO, Mwanje M, Muok EM, Ayisi JG, Laserson KF, Muchiri EM, Secor WE, Karanja DMS. Integrated community-directed intervention for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths in western Kenya - a pilot study. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:182. [PMID: 22937890 PMCID: PMC3447651 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosome and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are recognized as major global public health problems, causing severe and subtle morbidity, including significant educational and nutritional effects in children. Although effective and safe drugs are available, ensuring access to these drugs by all those at risk of schistosomiasis and STHs is still a challenge. Community-directed intervention (CDI) has been used successfully for mass distribution of drugs for other diseases such as onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. A national control programme is yet to be instituted in Kenya and evidence for cost-effective strategies for reaching most affected communities is needed. This study evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of the CDI strategy in the control of schistosomiasis and STHs, in East Uyoma location, Rarieda district, a community of western Kenya that is highly endemic for both infections. Results Pre-treatment prevalence of S. mansoni averaged 17.4% (range 5-43%) in the entire location. Treatment coverage in different villages ranged from 54.19 to 96.6% by community drug distributor (CDD) records. Assessment from a household survey showed coverage of 52.3 -91.9% while the proportion of homesteads (home compounds) covered ranged from 54.9-98.5%. Six months after one round of drug distribution, the prevalence levels of S. mansoni, hookworm and Trichuris trichura infections were reduced by 33.2%, 69.4% and 42.6% respectively. Conclusions This study shows that CDI is an accepted and effective strategy in the mass treatment of schistosomiasis and STH infections in resource constrained communities in Kenya and may be useful in similar communities elsewhere. A controlled trial comparing CDI and school based mass drug administration to demonstarte their relative advantages is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline N M Mwinzi
- Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
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Akogun O, Adesina A, Njobdi S, Ogundahunsi O. Nomadic Fulani communities manage malaria on the move. Int Health 2012; 4:10-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inhe.2011.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
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Molyneux DH, Malecela MN. Neglected tropical diseases and the millennium development goals: why the "other diseases" matter: reality versus rhetoric. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:234. [PMID: 22166580 PMCID: PMC3271994 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Since 2004 there has been an increased recognition of the importance of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) as impediments to development. These diseases are caused by a variety of infectious agents - viruses, bacteria and parasites - which cause a diversity of clinical conditions throughout the tropics. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined seventeen of these conditions as core NTDs. The objectives for the control, elimination or eradication of these conditions have been defined in World Health Assembly resolutions whilst the strategies for the control or elimination of individual diseases have been defined in various WHO documents. Since 2005 there has been a drive for the expanded control of these diseases through an integrated approach of mass drug administration referred to as Preventive Chemotherapy via community-based distribution systems and through schools. This has been made possible by donations from major pharmaceutical companies of quality and efficacious drugs which have a proven track record of safety. As a result of the increased commitment of endemic countries, bilateral donors and non-governmental development organisations, there has been a considerable expansion of mass drug administration. In particular, programmes targeting lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma and soil transmitted helminth infections have expanded to treat 887. 8 million people in 2009. There has been significant progress towards guinea worm eradication, and the control of leprosy and human African trypanosomiasis. This paper responds to what the authors believe are inappropriate criticisms of these programmes and counters accusations of the motives of partners made in recently published papers. We provide a detailed response and update the information on the numbers of global treatments undertaken for NTDs and list the success stories to date.The paper acknowledges that in undertaking any health programme in environments such as post-conflict countries, there are always challenges. It is also recognised that NTD control must always be undertaken within the health system context. However, it is important to emphasise that the availability of donated drugs, the multiple impact of those drugs, the willingness of countries to undertake their distribution, thereby committing their own resources to the programmes, and the proven beneficial results outweigh the problems which are faced in environments where communities are often beyond the reach of health services. Given the availability of these interventions, their cost effectiveness and the broader development impact we believe it would be unethical not to continue programmes of such long term benefit to the "bottom billion".
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Molyneux
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mwele N Malecela
- National Institute For Medical Research, Ocean Road, P.O Box 9653, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
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Molyneux D, Hallaj Z, Keusch GT, McManus DP, Ngowi H, Cleaveland S, Ramos-Jimenez P, Gotuzzo E, Kar K, Sanchez A, Garba A, Carabin H, Bassili A, Chaignat CL, Meslin FX, Abushama HM, Willingham AL, Kioy D. Zoonoses and marginalised infectious diseases of poverty: where do we stand? Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:106. [PMID: 21672216 PMCID: PMC3128850 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 06/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite growing awareness of the importance of controlling neglected tropical diseases as a contribution to poverty alleviation and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, there is a need to up-scale programmes to achieve wider public health benefits. This implementation deficit is attributable to several factors but one often overlooked is the specific difficulty in tackling diseases that involve both people and animals - the zoonoses. A Disease Reference Group on Zoonoses and Marginalised Infectious Diseases (DRG6) was convened by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), a programme executed by the World Health Organization and co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and WHO. The key considerations included: (a) the general lack of reliable quantitative data on their public health burden; (b) the need to evaluate livestock production losses and their additional impacts on health and poverty; (c) the relevance of cross-sectoral issues essential to designing and implementing public health interventions for zoonotic diseases; and (d) identifying priority areas for research and interventions to harness resources most effectively. Beyond disease specific research issues, a set of common macro-priorities and interventions were identified which, if implemented through a more integrated approach by countries, would have a significant impact on human health of the most marginalised populations characteristically dependent on livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Molyneux
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Zuhair Hallaj
- WHO/EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office) Consultant, Communicable Disease Control, c/o Elkoba Street, Apartment 52, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gerald T Keusch
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories and Director, Collaborative Core Special Assistant to the President for Global Health, Boston University, Cross-town Center 391, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, USA
| | - Donald P McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, QLD Q 4029, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Helena Ngowi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokione University of Agriculture, Mail Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Sarah Cleaveland
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pilar Ramos-Jimenez
- Philippine NGO Council on Population Health and Welfare, No. 304 Diplomat Condominium Bldg, Russel Avenue corner, Roxas Blvd., 1300 Pasay City, Philippines
| | - Eduardo Gotuzzo
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt", Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430-Urb. Ingenieria-SMP-Lima 3 31 Lima, Peru
| | - Kamal Kar
- R-109, the Residency, City Centre, Salt Lake City, Calcutta 700 064, India
| | - Ana Sanchez
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, ON L2S 3A1, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amadou Garba
- Riseal - Niger, 333, avenue des Zarmakoye, BP. 13724, Niamey, Niger
| | - Helene Carabin
- The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 Northeast 13th Street, Room 309AB, Post Office Box 26901, Oklahoma 73104, USA
| | - Amal Bassili
- ZOOM-IN Focal Point, TB Surveillance Officer, Tropical Disease Research, Communicable Disease Control, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Abdul Razzak Al Sanhouri Street, P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City Cairo 11371, Egypt
| | - Claire L Chaignat
- Sanitation and Hygiene, Protection of the Human Environment, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francois-Xavier Meslin
- Zoonoses and Veterinary Public Health, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hind M Abushama
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 321 11115 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Arve L Willingham
- Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | - Deborah Kioy
- Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
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Okeibunor JC, Amuyunzu-Nyamongo M, Onyeneho NG, Tchounkeu YFL, Manianga C, Kabali AT, Leak S. Where would I be without ivermectin? Capturing the benefits of community-directed treatment with ivermectin in Africa. Trop Med Int Health 2011; 16:608-21. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02735.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review is timely because awareness of the burden of disease from onchodermatitis has increased significantly over recent years. Recent progress in the field is reviewed with emphasis on publications within the past 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS Advances have been made in understanding immunopathogenesis and in diagnosis and treatment. The World Bank/WHO African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), which uses annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) via the Mectizan Donation Programme, now covers 19 African countries. Development of ivermectin resistance is a concern. Unlike ivermectin, which is a microfilaricide, doxycycline, which targets Wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria, sterilizes adult female worms and has a macrofilaricidal effect. Moxidectin, which sterilizes or kills adult worms has started a phase III trial with ivermectin. Additional primary healthcare interventions have been successfully integrated with CTDI. In Latin America, transmission has been interrupted in half of the original endemic foci and Colombia is the first nation to have achieved countrywide interruption of transmission. The first report of elimination using ivermectin in an African setting is a milestone. Two African foci using vector control plus CDTI have reported vector elimination. SUMMARY Results of the longer-term impact of large-scale ivermectin distribution by the APOC are awaited. Research is needed into new drug targets within Wolbachia's metabolic pathways. Elimination of transmission of disease is on the horizon but more research is needed on when and where ivermectin treatment can be stopped.
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