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Sheahan W, Anderson R, Aruldas K, Avokpaho E, Galagan S, Goodman J, Houngbegnon P, Israel GJ, Janagaraj V, Kaliappan SP, Means AR, Morozoff C, Pearman E, Ramesh RM, Roll A, Schaefer A, Simwanza J, Witek-McManus S, Ajjampur SSR, Bailey R, Ibikounlé M, Kalua K, Luty AJF, Pullan R, Walson JL, Ásbjörnsdóttir KH. Overestimation of school-based deworming coverage resulting from school-based reporting. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010401. [PMID: 37036890 PMCID: PMC10118084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) infect over 1.5 billion people globally and are associated with anemia and stunting, resulting in an annual toll of 1.9 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). School-based deworming (SBD), via mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns with albendazole or mebendazole, has been recommended by the World Health Organization to reduce levels of morbidity due to STH in endemic areas. DeWorm3 is a cluster-randomized trial, conducted in three study sites in Benin, India, and Malawi, designed to assess the feasibility of interrupting STH transmission with community-wide MDA as a potential strategy to replace SBD. This analysis examines data from the DeWorm3 trial to quantify discrepancies between school-level reporting of SBD and gold standard individual-level survey reporting of SBD. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Population-weighted averages of school-level SBD calculated at the cluster level were compared to aggregated individual-level SBD estimates to produce a Mean Squared Error (MSE) estimate for each study site. In order to estimate individual-level SBD coverage, these MSE values were applied to SBD estimates from the control arm of the DeWorm3 trial, where only school-level reporting of SBD coverage had been collected. In each study site, SBD coverage in the school-level datasets was substantially higher than that obtained from individual-level datasets, indicating possible overestimation of school-level SBD coverage. When applying observed MSE to project expected coverages in the control arm, SBD coverage dropped from 89.1% to 70.5% (p-value < 0.001) in Benin, from 97.7% to 84.5% (p-value < 0.001) in India, and from 41.5% to 37.5% (p-value < 0.001) in Malawi. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These estimates indicate that school-level SBD reporting is likely to significantly overestimate program coverage. These findings suggest that current SBD coverage estimates derived from school-based program data may substantially overestimate true pediatric deworming coverage within targeted communities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03014167.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Sheahan
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, PATH, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Roy Anderson
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kumudha Aruldas
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | | | - Sean Galagan
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jeanne Goodman
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Gideon John Israel
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Venkateshprabhu Janagaraj
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | | | - Arianna Rubin Means
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Chloe Morozoff
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Emily Pearman
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Rohan Michael Ramesh
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Amy Roll
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Schaefer
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - James Simwanza
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stefan Witek-McManus
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sitara S R Ajjampur
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Robin Bailey
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Khumbo Kalua
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Adrian J F Luty
- Université de Paris, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, MERIT, Paris, France
| | - Rachel Pullan
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Judd L Walson
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kristjana Hrönn Ásbjörnsdóttir
- The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
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2
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Witek-McManus S, Simwanza J, Chisambi AB, Kepha S, Kamwendo Z, Mbwinja A, Samikwa L, Oswald WE, Kennedy DS, Timothy JWS, Legge H, Galagan SR, Emmanuel-Fabula M, Schaer F, Ásbjörnsdóttir K, Halliday KE, Walson JL, Juziwelo L, Bailey RL, Kalua K, Pullan RL. Epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminths following sustained implementation of routine preventive chemotherapy: Demographics and baseline results of a cluster randomised trial in southern Malawi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009292. [PMID: 33979325 PMCID: PMC8224978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malawi has successfully leveraged multiple delivery platforms to scale-up and sustain the implementation of preventive chemotherapy (PCT) for the control of morbidity caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Sentinel monitoring demonstrates this strategy has been successful in reducing STH infection in school-age children, although our understanding of the contemporary epidemiological profile of STH across the broader community remains limited. As part of a multi-site trial evaluating the feasibility of interrupting STH transmission across three countries, this study aimed to describe the baseline demographics and the prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of STH infection in Mangochi district, southern Malawi. Between October-December 2017, a community census was conducted across the catchment area of seven primary healthcare facilities, enumerating 131,074 individuals across 124 villages. A cross-sectional parasitological survey was then conducted between March-May 2018 in the censused area as a baseline for a cluster randomised trial. An age-stratified random sample of 6,102 individuals were assessed for helminthiasis by Kato-Katz and completed a detailed risk-factor questionnaire. The age-cluster weighted prevalence of any STH infection was 7.8% (95% C.I. 7.0%-8.6%) comprised predominantly of hookworm species and of entirely low-intensity infections. The presence and intensity of infection was significantly higher in men and in adults. Infection was negatively associated with risk factors that included increasing levels of relative household wealth, higher education levels of any adult household member, current school attendance, or recent deworming. In this setting of relatively high coverage of sanitation facilities, there was no association between hookworm and reported access to sanitation, handwashing facilities, or water facilities. These results describe a setting that has reduced the prevalence of STH to a very low level, and confirms many previously recognised risk-factors for infection. Expanding the delivery of anthelmintics to groups where STH infection persist could enable Malawi to move past the objective of elimination of morbidity, and towards the elimination of STH. Trial registration: NCT03014167.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Witek-McManus
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - James Simwanza
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alvin B. Chisambi
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stella Kepha
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Zachariah Kamwendo
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alfred Mbwinja
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Lyson Samikwa
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - William E. Oswald
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David S. Kennedy
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph W. S. Timothy
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hugo Legge
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sean R. Galagan
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Mira Emmanuel-Fabula
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Fabian Schaer
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristjana Ásbjörnsdóttir
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Katherine E. Halliday
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Judd L. Walson
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Medicine and Department of Paediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lazarus Juziwelo
- National Schistosomiasis and STH Control Programme, Community Health Sciences Unit, Ministry of Health & Population, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Robin L. Bailey
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Khumbo Kalua
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Rachel L. Pullan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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3
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Oswald WE, Kennedy DS, Farzana J, Kaliappan SP, Atindegla E, Houngbégnon P, Chisambi A, Witek-McManus S, Galagan SR, Emmanuel-Fabula M, Gwayi-Chore MC, Legge H, Yard E, Kalua K, Ibikounlé M, Ajjampur SSR, Means AR, Ásbjörnsdóttir KH, Halliday KE, Walson JL. Development and application of an electronic treatment register: a system for enumerating populations and monitoring treatment during mass drug administration. Glob Health Action 2021; 13:1785146. [PMID: 32666905 PMCID: PMC7480461 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1785146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed an electronic treatment register for the DeWorm3 Project, a cluster-randomised, controlled trial in Benin, India, and Malawi testing the feasibility of interrupting transmission of soil-transmitted helminths through community-wide mass drug administration. The electronic treatment register was designed in xlsform, deployed via the SurveyCTO mobile data collection platform, and implemented on smartphones running the Android operating system. The versatile system enables collection of census and treatment status information, facilitates data aggregation and visualisation, and permits real-time feedback loops during implementation of mass drug administration. Here we describe the system’s design and use within the DeWorm3 Project and key features, and by sharing the register here, we hope our readers will further explore its use within their research and disease-control activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Oswald
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London, UK
| | - David S Kennedy
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London, UK
| | - Jasmine Farzana
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College , Vellore, India
| | | | - Eloic Atindegla
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB) , Calavi, Benin
| | | | - Alvin Chisambi
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital , Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stefan Witek-McManus
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London, UK
| | - Sean R Galagan
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mira Emmanuel-Fabula
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marie-Claire Gwayi-Chore
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hugo Legge
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London, UK
| | - Elodie Yard
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK
| | - Khumbo Kalua
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital , Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Moudachirou Ibikounlé
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB) , Calavi, Benin.,Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi , Cotonou, Benin
| | - Sitara Swarna Rao Ajjampur
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College , Vellore, India
| | - Arianna Rubin Means
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kristjana H Ásbjörnsdóttir
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katherine E Halliday
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London, UK
| | - Judd L Walson
- DeWorm3, Division of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum , London, UK.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Truscott JE, Hardwick RJ, Werkman M, Saravanakumar PK, Manuel M, Ajjampur SSR, Ásbjörnsdóttir KH, Khumbo K, Witek-McManus S, Simwanza J, Cottrell G, Houngbégnon P, Ibikounlé M, Walson JL, Anderson RM. Forecasting the effectiveness of the DeWorm3 trial in interrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths in three study sites in Benin, India and Malawi. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:67. [PMID: 33472677 PMCID: PMC7818558 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04572-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The DeWorm3 project is an ongoing cluster-randomised trial assessing the feasibility of interrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) through mass drug administration (MDA) using study sites in India, Malawi and Benin. In this article, we describe an approach which uses a combination of statistical and mathematical methods to forecast the outcome of the trial with respect to its stated goal of reducing the prevalence of infection to below 2%. Methods Our approach is first to define the local patterns of transmission within each study site, which is achieved by statistical inference of key epidemiological parameters using the baseline epidemiological measures of age-related prevalence and intensity of STH infection which have been collected by the DeWorm3 trials team. We use these inferred parameters to calibrate an individual-based stochastic simulation of the trial at the cluster and study site level, which is subsequently run to forecast the future prevalence of STH infections. The simulator takes into account both the uncertainties in parameter estimation and the variability inherent in epidemiological and demographic processes in the simulator. We interpret the forecast results from our simulation with reference to the stated goal of the DeWorm3 trial, to achieve a target of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\le 2\%$$\end{document}≤2% prevalence at a point 24 months post-cessation of MDA. Results Simulated output predicts that the two arms will be distinguishable from each other in all three country sites at the study end point. In India and Malawi, measured prevalence in the intervention arm is below the threshold with a high probability (90% and 95%, respectively), but in Benin the heterogeneity between clusters prevents the arm prevalence from being reduced below the threshold value. At the level of individual study arms within each site, heterogeneity among clusters leads to a very low probability of achieving complete elimination in an intervention arm, yielding a post-study scenario with widespread elimination but a few ‘hot spot’ areas of persisting STH transmission. Conclusions Our results suggest that geographical heterogeneities in transmission intensity and worm aggregation have a large impact on the effect of MDA. It is important to accurately assess cluster-level, or even smaller scale, heterogeneities in factors which influence transmission and aggregation for a clearer perspective on projecting the outcomes of MDA control of STH and other neglected tropical diseases. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Truscott
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK. .,MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK. .,The DeWorm3 Project, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK.
| | - Robert J Hardwick
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,The DeWorm3 Project, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Marleen Werkman
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Malathi Manuel
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Sitara S R Ajjampur
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Kristjana H Ásbjörnsdóttir
- The DeWorm3 Project, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK.,Departments of Global Health, Medicine (Infectious Disease), Pediatrics and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kalua Khumbo
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stefan Witek-McManus
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - James Simwanza
- Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Gilles Cottrell
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, MERIT, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Parfait Houngbégnon
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Moudachirou Ibikounlé
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.,Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Judd L Walson
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,The DeWorm3 Project, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK.,Departments of Global Health, Medicine (Infectious Disease), Pediatrics and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Roy M Anderson
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London, W2 1PG, UK.,The DeWorm3 Project, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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5
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Oswald WE, Kepha S, Halliday KE, Mcharo C, Safari T, Witek-McManus S, Hardwick RJ, Allen E, Matendechero SH, Brooker SJ, Njenga SM, Mwandawiro CS, Anderson RM, Pullan RL. Patterns of individual non-treatment during multiple rounds of mass drug administration for control of soil-transmitted helminths in the TUMIKIA trial, Kenya: a secondary longitudinal analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 8:e1418-e1426. [PMID: 33069302 PMCID: PMC7564382 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30344-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have been done of patterns of treatment during mass drug administration (MDA) to control neglected tropical diseases. We used routinely collected individual-level treatment records that had been collated for the Tuangamize Minyoo Kenya Imarisha Afya (Swahili for Eradicate Worms in Kenya for Better Health [TUMIKIA]) trial, done in coastal Kenya from 2015 to 2017. In this analysis we estimate the extent of and factors associated with the same individuals not being treated over multiple rounds of MDA, which we term systematic non-treatment. METHODS We linked the baseline population of the TUMIKIA trial randomly assigned to receive biannual community-wide MDA for soil-transmitted helminthiasis to longitudinal records on receipt of treatment in any of the four treatment rounds of the study. We fitted logistic regression models to estimate the association of non-treatment in a given round with non-treatment in the previous round, controlling for identified predictors of non-treatment. We also used multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with part or no treatment versus complete treatment. FINDINGS 36 327 participants were included in our analysis: 16 236 children aged 2-14 years and 20 091 adults aged 15 years or older. The odds of having no treatment recorded was higher if a participant was not treated during the previous round of MDA (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·60, 95% CI 3·08-4·20 for children and 5·58, 5·01-6·21 for adults). For children, school attendance and rural residence reduced the odds of receiving part or no treatment, whereas odds were increased by least poor socioeconomic status and living in an urban or periurban household. Women had higher odds than men of receiving part or no treatment. However, when those with pregnancy or childbirth in the previous 2 weeks were excluded, women became more likely to receive complete treatment. Adults aged 20-25 years were the age group with the highest odds of receiving part (OR 1·41, 95% CI 1·22-1·63) or no treatment (OR 1·81, 95% CI 1·53-2·14). INTERPRETATION Non-treatment was associated with specific sociodemographic groups and characteristics and did not occcur at random. This finding has important implications for MDA programme effectiveness, the relevance of which will intensify as disease prevalence decreases and infections become increasingly clustered. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Joint Global Health Trials Scheme of the Medical Research Council, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, and London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Oswald
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Stella Kepha
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Katherine E Halliday
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Carlos Mcharo
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Th'uva Safari
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stefan Witek-McManus
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Robert J Hardwick
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, St Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Allen
- Department of Medical Statistics, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sultani H Matendechero
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Division of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Simon J Brooker
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sammy M Njenga
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charles S Mwandawiro
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Roy M Anderson
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, St Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel L Pullan
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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6
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Oswald WE, Halliday KE, Mcharo C, Witek-McManus S, Kepha S, Gichuki PM, Cano J, Diaz-Ordaz K, Allen E, Mwandawiro CS, Anderson RM, Brooker SJ, Pullan RL, Njenga SM. Domains of transmission and association of community, school, and household sanitation with soil-transmitted helminth infections among children in coastal Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007488. [PMID: 31765383 PMCID: PMC6901232 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have simultaneously examined the role of sanitation conditions at the home, school, and community on soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection. We examined the contribution of each domain that children inhabit (home, village, and school) to STH infection and estimated the association of STH infection with sanitation in each domain. METHODS Using data from 4,104 children from Kwale County, Kenya, who reported attending school, we used logistic regression models with cross-classified random effects to calculate measures of general contextual effects and estimate associations of village sanitation coverage (percentage of households with reported access to sanitation), school sanitation coverage (number of usable toilets per enrolled pupil), and sanitation access at home with STH infection. FINDINGS We found reported use of a sanitation facility by households was associated with reduced prevalence of hookworm infection but not with reduced prevalence of T. trichiura infection. School sanitation coverage > 3 toilets per 100 pupils was associated with lower prevalence of hookworm infection. School sanitation was not associated with T. trichiura infection. Village sanitation coverage > 81% was associated with reduced prevalence of T. trichiura infection, but no protective association was detected for hookworm infection. General contextual effects represented by residual heterogeneity between village and school domains had comparable impact upon likelihood of hookworm and T. trichiura infection as sanitation coverage in either of these domains. CONCLUSION Findings support the importance of providing good sanitation facilities to support mass drug administration in reducing the burden of STH infection in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E. Oswald
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Katherine E. Halliday
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Mcharo
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stefan Witek-McManus
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stella Kepha
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Paul M. Gichuki
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jorge Cano
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karla Diaz-Ordaz
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Allen
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charles S. Mwandawiro
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Roy M. Anderson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, St Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J. Brooker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L. Pullan
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sammy M. Njenga
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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Pullan RL, Halliday KE, Oswald WE, Mcharo C, Beaumont E, Kepha S, Witek-McManus S, Gichuki PM, Allen E, Drake T, Pitt C, Matendechero SH, Gwayi-Chore MC, Anderson RM, Njenga SM, Brooker SJ, Mwandawiro CS. Effects, equity, and cost of school-based and community-wide treatment strategies for soil-transmitted helminths in Kenya: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2019; 393:2039-2050. [PMID: 31006575 PMCID: PMC6525786 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32591-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND School-based deworming programmes can reduce morbidity attributable to soil-transmitted helminths in children but do not interrupt transmission in the wider community. We assessed the effects of alternative mass treatment strategies on community soil-transmitted helminth infection. METHODS In this cluster-randomised controlled trial, 120 community units (clusters) serving 150 000 households in Kenya were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive albendazole through annual school-based treatment targeting 2-14 year olds or annual or biannual community-wide treatment targeting all ages. The primary outcome was community hookworm prevalence, assessed at 12 and 24 months through repeat cross-sectional surveys. Secondary outcomes were Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura prevalence, infection intensity of each soil-transmitted helminth species, and treatment coverage and costs. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02397772. FINDINGS After 24 months, prevalence of hookworm changed from 18·6% (95% CI 13·9-23·2) to 13·8% (10·5-17·0) in the annual school-based treatment group, 17·9% (13·7-22·1) to 8·0% (6·0-10·1) in the annual community-wide treatment group, and 20·6% (15·8-25·5) to 6·2% (4·9-7·5) in the biannual community-wide treatment group. Relative to annual school-based treatment, the risk ratio for annual community-wide treatment was 0·59 (95% CI 0·42-0·83; p<0·001) and for biannual community-wide treatment was 0·46 (0·33-0·63; p<0·001). More modest reductions in risk were observed after 12 months. Risk ratios were similar across demographic and socioeconomic subgroups after 24 months. No adverse events related to albendazole were reported. INTERPRETATION Community-wide treatment was more effective in reducing hookworm prevalence and intensity than school-based treatment, with little additional benefit of treating every 6 months, and was shown to be remarkably equitable in coverage and effects. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Joint Global Health Trials Scheme of the Medical Research Council, the UK Department for International Development, the Wellcome Trust, and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Pullan
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Katherine E Halliday
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - William E Oswald
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Carlos Mcharo
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Emma Beaumont
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stella Kepha
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Stefan Witek-McManus
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Paul M Gichuki
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Allen
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tom Drake
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Catherine Pitt
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sultani H Matendechero
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Division of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Roy M Anderson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, St Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sammy M Njenga
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Simon J Brooker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Charles S Mwandawiro
- Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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8
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Mphwatiwa T, Witek-McManus S, Mtali A, Okello G, Nguluwe P, Chatsika H, Roschnik N, Halliday KE, Brooker SJ, Mathanga DP. School-based diagnosis and treatment of malaria by teachers using rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy: experiences and perceptions of users and implementers of the Learner Treatment Kit, southern Malawi. Malar J 2017; 16:318. [PMID: 28784129 PMCID: PMC5547577 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1964-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Training teachers to diagnose uncomplicated malaria using malaria rapid diagnostic tests and treat with artemisinin-based combination therapy has the potential to improve the access of primary school children (6–14 years) to prompt and efficient treatment for malaria, but little is known about the acceptability of such an intervention. This qualitative study explored experiences and perceptions of users and implementers of a programme of school-based malaria case management via a first-aid kit—the Learner Treatment Kit (LTK)—implemented as part of a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Zomba district, Malawi. Methods From 29 primary schools where teachers were trained to test and treat school children for malaria using the LTK, six schools were purposively selected on the basis of relative intervention usage (low, medium or high); school size and geographical location. In total eight focus group discussions were held with school children, parents and guardians, and teachers; and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders at the school, district and national levels. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results The LTK was widely perceived by respondents to be a worthwhile intervention, with the opinion that trained teachers were trusted providers of malaria testing and treatment to school children. Benefits of the programme included a perception of improved access to malaria treatment for school children; decreased school absenteeism; and that the programme supported broader national health and education policies. Potential barriers to successful implementation expressed included increased teacher workloads, a feeling of inadequate supervision from health workers, lack of incentives and concerns for the sustainability of the programme regarding the supply of drugs and commodities. Conclusion Training teachers to test for and treat uncomplicated malaria in schools was well received by both users and implementers alike, and was perceived by the majority of stakeholders to be a valuable programme. Factors raised as critical to the success of such a programme included ensuring an effective supervisory system, a reliable supply chain, and the training of greater numbers of teachers per school to manage high consultation numbers, especially during the peak malaria transmission season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Treza Mphwatiwa
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | - George Okello
- KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Don P Mathanga
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. .,Malaria Alert Centre, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
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9
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Mathanga DP, Halliday KE, Jawati M, Verney A, Bauleni A, Sande J, Ali D, Jones R, Witek-McManus S, Roschnik N, Brooker SJ. The High Burden of Malaria in Primary School Children in Southern Malawi. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 93:779-789. [PMID: 26283750 PMCID: PMC4596600 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria among school children has received increased attention recently, yet there remain few detailed data on the health and educational burden of malaria, especially in southern Africa. This paper reports a survey among school children in 50 schools in Zomba District, Malawi. Children were assessed for Plasmodium infection, anemia, and nutritional status and took a battery of age-appropriate tests of attention, literacy, and numeracy. Overall, 60.0% of children were infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 32.4% were anemic and 32.4% reported sleeping under a mosquito net the previous night. Patterns of P. falciparum infection and anemia varied markedly by school. In multivariable analysis, higher odds of P. falciparum infection were associated with younger age and being stunted, whereas lower odds were associated with reported net use, higher parental education, and socioeconomic status. The odds of anemia were significantly associated with P. falciparum infection, with a dose-response relationship between density of infection and odds of anemia. No clear relationship was observed between health status and cognitive and educational outcomes. The high burden of malaria highlights the need to tackle malaria among school children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine E. Halliday
- Malaria Alert Centre, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Save the Children International, Blantyre, Malawi; National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi; Save the Children USA, Washington, DC
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10
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Witek-McManus S, Mathanga DP, Verney A, Mtali A, Ali D, Sande J, Mwenda R, Ndau S, Mazinga C, Phondiwa E, Chimuna T, Melody D, Roschnik N, Brooker SJ, Halliday KE. Design, implementation and evaluation of a training programme for school teachers in the use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests as part of a basic first aid kit in southern Malawi. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:904. [PMID: 26377070 PMCID: PMC4573472 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2228-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With increasing levels of enrolment, primary schools present a pragmatic opportunity to improve the access of school children to timely diagnosis and treatment of malaria, increasingly recognised as a major health problem within this age group. The expanded use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) by community health workers (CHWs) has raised the prospect of whether teachers can provide similar services for school children. We describe and evaluate the training of primary school teachers to use a first aid kit containing malaria RDTs and ACT for the diagnosis and treament of uncomplicated malaria in school children in southern Malawi. Methods We outline the development of the intervention as: (1) conception and design, (2) pilot training, (3) final training, and (4) 7-month follow up. The training materials were piloted at a four-day workshop in July 2013 following their design at national stakeholders meetings. The evaluation of the pilot training and materials were assessed in relation to increased knowledge and skill sets using checklist evaluations and questionnaires, the results of which informed the design of a final seven-day training programme held in December 2013. A follow up of trained teachers was carried out in July 2014 following 7 months of routine implementation. A total of 15 teachers were evaluated at four stages: pilot training, two weeks following pilot, final training and seven months following final training. Results A total of 15 and 92 teachers were trained at the pilot and final training respectively. An average of 93 % of the total steps required to use RDTs were completed correctly at the final training, declining to 87 % after 7 months. All teachers were observed correctly undertaking safe blood collection and handling, accurate RDT interpretation, and correct dispensing of ACT. The most commonly observed errors were a failure to wait 20 minutes before reading the test result, and adding an incorrect volume of buffer to the test cassette. Conclusion Following training, teachers are able to competently use RDTs and ACTs test and treat children at school for uncomplicated malaria safely and accurately. Teachers demonstrate a comparable level of RDT use relative to non-health professional users of RDTs, and sustain this competency over a period of seven months during routine implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Witek-McManus
- Save the Children International, Zomba, Malawi. .,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Don P Mathanga
- Malaria Alert Centre, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
| | | | | | - Doreen Ali
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| | - John Sande
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| | - Reuben Mwenda
- Health Technical Support Services-Diagnostics, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| | - Saidi Ndau
- Zomba District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Zomba, Malawi.
| | - Charles Mazinga
- Department of School Health, Nutrition, HIV & AIDS, Ministry of Education, Science & Technology, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| | - Emmanuel Phondiwa
- Zomba District Education Office, Ministry of Education, Science & Technology, Zomba, Malawi.
| | | | | | | | - Simon J Brooker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Katherine E Halliday
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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