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Kabanga C, Valverde Mordt O, Mbo F, Mbondo M, Olela D, Etinkum R, Nkaji D, Mukoso B, Mananasi L. Communities' Perception, Knowledge, and Practices Related to Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Diseases 2022; 10:69. [PMID: 36278568 PMCID: PMC9589976 DOI: 10.3390/diseases10040069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has significantly reduced, thanks to more effective drugs and screening tools and regular mass screening. However, this potentially jeopardizes HAT control activities, especially community engagement. METHODS We used an ecological model framework to understand how various factors shape communities' knowledge, perceptions, and behavior in this low endemicity context. Community members, frontline health providers, and policymakers were consulted using an ethnographic approach. RESULTS Communities in endemic areas are knowledgeable about causes, symptoms, and treatment of HAT, but this was more limited among young people. Few are aware of new HAT treatment or screening techniques. Participation in mass screening has declined due to many factors including fear and a lack of urgency, given the low numbers of cases. Delays in seeking medical care are due to confusion of HAT symptoms with those of other diseases and belief that HAT is caused by witchcraft. CONCLUSIONS Community members see their role more in terms of vector control than participation in screening, referral, or accepting treatment. We propose recommendations for achieving sustainable community engagement, including development of an information and communication strategy and empowerment of communities to take greater ownership of HAT control activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Florent Mbo
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Quartier Socimat, Gombe, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Medard Mbondo
- Independent Consultant, Quartier Ngansele, Mont Ngafula, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Donatien Olela
- Faculty of Social, Politic and Administrative Sciences, Department of Sociology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 127, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Rinelle Etinkum
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Gombe, Kinshasa P.O. Box 7555, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Dieudonne Nkaji
- Faculty of Social, Politic and Administrative Sciences, Department of Anthropology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 127, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Bienvenu Mukoso
- Faculty of Social, Politic and Administrative Sciences, Department of Anthropology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 127, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Lubanza Mananasi
- Faculty of Social, Politic and Administrative Sciences, Department of Anthropology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa P.O. Box 127, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Policy and Linkages in the Application of a One Health System for Reporting and Controlling African Trypanosomiasis and Other Zoonotic Diseases in Zambia. Pathogens 2021; 11:pathogens11010030. [PMID: 35055978 PMCID: PMC8781336 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to detect, control and manage emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in Africa has been limited by a lack of utilisation of available reporting structures and policies to support programmes at national and local levels. This study explored the impact of the Zambian government policies on animal and human disease reporting and management and on One Health opportunities. An in-depth review and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the existing policies and reporting structures in the departments responsible for Veterinary Services, Health, and Wildlife, was conducted. According to our findings, sub-optimal implementation of existing policies related to the control of zoonotic diseases was impacting disease reporting, and reporting structures play an important role in effective and sustainable reporting of zoonotic diseases. Further, the study explored capacities and strategies in trypanosomiasis control as a case study that could prompt effective adoption of a One Health approach, and as such, the study suggests measures that could help to assess the performance of a One Health system in the control of African trypanosomiasis and other zoonotic diseases.
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Mulenga GM, Henning L, Chilongo K, Mubamba C, Namangala B, Gummow B. Insights into the Control and Management of Human and Bovine African Trypanosomiasis in Zambia between 2009 and 2019-A Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:E115. [PMID: 32664551 PMCID: PMC7559803 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5030115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse transmitted trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease commonly known as Nagana in cattle and sleeping sickness in humans. The disease threatens food security and has severe economic impact in Africa including most parts of Zambia. The level of effectiveness of commonly used African trypanosomiasis control methods has been reported in several studies. However, there have been no review studies on African trypanosomiasis control and management conducted in the context of One Health. This paper therefore seeks to fill this knowledge gap. A review of studies that have been conducted on African trypanosomiasis in Zambia between 2009 and 2019, with a focus on the control and management of trypanosomiasis was conducted. A total of 2238 articles were screened, with application of the search engines PubMed, PubMed Central and One Search. Out of these articles, 18 matched the required criteria and constituted the basis for the paper. An in-depth analysis of the 18 articles was conducted to identify knowledge gaps and evidence for best practices. Findings from this review provide stakeholders and health workers with a basis for prioritisation of African trypanosomiasis as an important neglected disease in Zambia and for formulation of One Health strategies for better control and/or management of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria M. Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Services, Kakumbi Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Research Station, P.O Box 70, Mfuwe 10101, Zambia
- Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Department of Veterinary Services, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (K.C.); (C.M.)
- College of Public Health Medical and Veterinary Services, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia; (L.H.); (B.G.)
| | - Lars Henning
- College of Public Health Medical and Veterinary Services, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia; (L.H.); (B.G.)
| | - Kalinga Chilongo
- Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Department of Veterinary Services, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (K.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Chrisborn Mubamba
- Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Department of Veterinary Services, Lusaka 10101, Zambia; (K.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Boniface Namangala
- Institute of distance learning, The University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia;
| | - Bruce Gummow
- College of Public Health Medical and Veterinary Services, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia; (L.H.); (B.G.)
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
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Berhe DF, Taxis K, Haaijer‐Ruskamp FM, Mol PGM. Healthcare professionals' level of medication knowledge in Africa: a systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 84:2729-2746. [PMID: 30171617 PMCID: PMC6256006 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Understanding how much healthcare professionals (HCPs) know about medication can help in devising strategies to improve rational medication use. This study aimed to synthesize information on the level of medication knowledge of HCPs in Africa. METHOD We performed a systematic literature study in Embase and PubMed. We included original studies quantifying HCPs' medication knowledge, published between 2012 and 2016. We extracted disease focus, country, number and type of HCPs included and all medication-related knowledge questions and scored the quality of papers. The outcome measure was the percentage of HCPs who correctly answered medication knowledge questions. RESULTS We identified 64 studies from 12 African countries, comprising 13 911 HCPs, mostly nurses/midwifes and physicians. We extracted 306 medication-related knowledge questions, and only 52% (SD 28) of HCPs correctly answered them. Knowledge questions were mainly about medication prescribed for communicable diseases (70%), followed by non-communicable diseases (11%), and family planning/gynaecology (10%). Most papers concluded that there was a considerable medication knowledge gap among HCPs. CONCLUSION We found a low level of medication knowledge across different disease areas, countries and HCPs. This underlines the continuous need to strengthen the undergraduate and postgraduate education in (clinical) pharmacology and therapeutics in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derbew Fikadu Berhe
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of GroningenUniversity Medical Center GroningenThe Netherlands
- School of Pharmacy, College of Health SciencesMekelle UniversityMekelleEthiopia
| | - Katja Taxis
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit Pharmacotherapy, ‐epidemiology and ‐economicsUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Flora M. Haaijer‐Ruskamp
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of GroningenUniversity Medical Center GroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Peter G. M. Mol
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of GroningenUniversity Medical Center GroningenThe Netherlands
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Squarre D, Kabongo I, Munyeme M, Mumba C, Mwasinga W, Hachaambwa L, Sugimoto C, Namangala B. Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Kafue National Park, Zambia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004567. [PMID: 27196336 PMCID: PMC4873190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David Squarre
- Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), Chilanga, Zambia
- * E-mail:
| | - Ilunga Kabongo
- Care for Business (CFB) Medical Center and Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Musso Munyeme
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chisoni Mumba
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Wizaso Mwasinga
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Chihiro Sugimoto
- Research Centre for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Boniface Namangala
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
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Wamwiri FN, Changasi RE. Tsetse Flies (Glossina) as Vectors of Human African Trypanosomiasis: A Review. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:6201350. [PMID: 27034944 PMCID: PMC4789378 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6201350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) transmitted by the tsetse fly continues to be a public health issue, despite more than a century of research. There are two types of the disease, the chronic gambiense and the acute rhodesiense-HAT. Fly abundance and distribution have been affected by changes in land-use patterns and climate. However, disease transmission still continues. Here, we review some aspects of HAT ecoepidemiology in the context of altered infestation patterns and maintenance of the transmission cycle as well as emerging options in disease and vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Njeri Wamwiri
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Biotechnology Research Institute, P.O. Box 362, Muguga 00902, Kenya
| | - Robert Emojong Changasi
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Biotechnology Research Institute, P.O. Box 362, Muguga 00902, Kenya
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Laohasinnarong D, Goto Y, Goto Y, Asada M, Nakao R, Hayashida K, Kajino K, Kawazu SI, Sugimoto C, Inoue N, Namangala B. Studies of trypanosomiasis in the Luangwa valley, north-eastern Zambia. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:497. [PMID: 26419347 PMCID: PMC4589067 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1112-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The present study, conducted in Zambia’s Luangwa valley where both animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are endemic, combined the use of microscopy and molecular techniques to determine the presence of trypanosome species in cattle, goats and tsetse flies. Methods This study was conducted between 2008 and 2010 in Petauke, Chama and Isoka districts, north-eastern Zambia. A total of 243 cattle, 36 goats and 546 tsetse flies, were examined for presence of trypanosome species using microscopy, PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Results There was poor agreement among the test methods used for detection of trypanosomes species in animal blood and tsetse flies. Trypanosomes were observed in 6.1 % (95 % CI: 3.3-8.9 %) of the animals sampled by microscopy, 7.5 % (95 % CI: 4.4–10.6 %) by PCR and 18.6 % (95 % CI: 13.6–23.6 %) by PFR-LAMP. PFR-LAMP was more sensitive for detecting Trypanozoon than KIN-PCR. The highest occurrence of AAT was recorded in cattle from Petauke (58.7 %, 95 % CI: 44.7–72.7 %) while the lowest was from Isoka (5.4 %, 95 % CI: 0.8–10.0 %). Infection of both cattle and goats with Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax was associated with clinical AAT. Conclusion When selecting molecular techniques for AAT surveillance in endemic regions, the KIN-PCR and species-specific PCR may be recommended for screening animal or tsetse fly samples for T. congolense and T. vivax, respectively. On the other hand, species-specific PCR and/or LAMP might be of greater value in the screening of animal and human body fluids as well as tsetse fly samples for Trypanozoon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusit Laohasinnarong
- O.I.E. Reference Laboratory on Surra, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan. .,Clinical Sciences and Public Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
| | | | - Yasuhuki Goto
- O.I.E. Reference Laboratory on Surra, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Masahito Asada
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Kyoko Hayashida
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Kiichi Kajino
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Shin-ichiro Kawazu
- O.I.E. Reference Laboratory on Surra, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Chihiro Sugimoto
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Noboru Inoue
- O.I.E. Reference Laboratory on Surra, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Boniface Namangala
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
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Assessing the capacity to diagnose human African trypanosomiasis among health care personnel from Chama and Mambwe districts of eastern Zambia. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:433. [PMID: 26362937 PMCID: PMC4567820 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease affecting poor rural communities living in tsetse-infested regions of sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, sporadic cases of HAT have been reported mainly in the old foci along the tsetse-infested Luangwa river valley in north-eastern part of the country. In such places where malaria is the major endemic febrile disease, with possibilities of co-infections of HAT and malaria and where the levels of alertness to the presence of HAT among health care personnel (HCP) is low, there is a high chance of misdiagnosing HAT for malaria because of their similarities in clinical presentation. This study, conducted in Zambia’s tsetse-infested rural health centres (RHCs) of Chama and Mambwe districts, was designed to investigate the staffing levels, the HCP levels of alertness to the occurrence of HAT and their capacity to detect the disease. Methods Structured questionnaires were used to collect information pertaining to HAT alertness and the capacity to detect the disease from 101 HCP in a cross sectional study of 23 RHCs drawn from Zambia’s Chama and Mambwe districts between April and July 2013. The data collected were analyzed using Stata/SE version 11.0. Results Participants from both Chama and Mambwe district RHCs reported similar very low levels of qualified HCP and laboratory technicians, and that they had similar basic tools for HAT diagnosis. Although not statistically significant, respondents from Chama (~89 %) tended to be more aware about the occurrence of HAT compared to their Mambwe counterparts (~78 %). Whereas ~40 % of the HCP from Chama district (n = 52) claimed to have encountered at least one case of HAT, only ~4 % of their Mambwe counterparts (n = 49) had similar experiences (P = 0.000). Conclusion Health care personnel in RHCs from Chama tended to be more alert to the occurrence of HAT than the HCP from Mambwe district. The extremely low levels of categorized HCP, general absence of functional laboratories, coupled with absence of national HAT surveillance and control programs, are among some of the serious challenges that Zambia’s Chama and Mambwe districts face to control/eliminate HAT.
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Mbewe NJ, Mweempwa C, Guya S, Wamwiri FN. Microbiome frequency and their association with trypanosome infection in male Glossina morsitans centralis of Western Zambia. Vet Parasitol 2015; 211:93-8. [PMID: 25983231 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are considered primary cyclical vectors that transmit pathogenic trypanosomes in Africa. They harbour a variety of microbes including Wolbachia, Sodalis and the salivary gland hypertrophy virus (SGHV) which are all vertically transmitted. Knowledge on tsetse microbiome and their interactions may identify novel strategies for tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis control. Area-wide application of such strategies requires an understanding of the natural microbiome frequency in the different species and subspecies of Glossina in their geographical populations. Consequently, this study determined the prevalence of Sodalis, Wolbachia, SGHV and trypanosome infections in Glossina morsitanscentralis from two sites of Western Zambia. We also explored possible associations of the microbes with trypanosome infections. Male G. morsitanscentralis samples were collected from two sites (Lyoni and Lusinina) in Western Zambia. The age structure of the flies at each site was determined using the wing fray method. DNA was extracted from the samples and analyzed for Wolbachia, Sodalis, SGHV and trypanosome presence using PCR. Associations and measures of associations between trypanosome infection and microbes in the fly were determined. The flies from the two locations (Lusinina, n=45 and Lyoni, n=24) had a similar age structure with their median fray category not being significantly different (p=0.698). The overall prevalence of Wolbachia was 72.5% (95% CI: 61.6-83.3%), Sodalis was 15.9% (95% CI: 7.1-24.8%), SGHV was 31.9% (95% CI: 20.6-43.2%) and Trypanosoma species was 23.2% (95% CI: 13-33.4%). The prevalence of Wolbachia was significantly higher in Lusinina than Lyoni (p=0.000). However this was not the case for Sodalis, SGHV and Trypanosoma species. Despite the low number of flies that were positive for both trypanosome and Sodalis (6; 8.7%), a statistically significant association (p=0.013; AOR 6.2; 95% CI: 1.5-25.8) was observed in G. morsitanscentralis. The study showed that the prevalence of microbiota may vary within the same species of the tsetse depending on the geographical location as was the case of Wolbachia. Further it showed that infection with Sodalis could affect vector competence. The study concludes that Sodalis could be an ideal candidate for symbiont-mediated trypanosomiasis control interventions in G. morsitanscentralis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Njelembo J Mbewe
- Department of Veterinary Services, Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Section, Chilanga, 350001, Zambia.
| | - Cornelius Mweempwa
- Department of Veterinary Services, Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Section, Chilanga, 350001, Zambia
| | - Samuel Guya
- Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation,Biotechnology Research Institute, Kikuyu, 362 00902, Kenya
| | - Florence N Wamwiri
- Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation,Biotechnology Research Institute, Kikuyu, 362 00902, Kenya
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Bardosh K. Global aspirations, local realities: the role of social science research in controlling neglected tropical diseases. Infect Dis Poverty 2014; 3:35. [PMID: 25320672 PMCID: PMC4197218 DOI: 10.1186/2049-9957-3-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are both drivers and manifestations of poverty and social inequality. Increased advocacy efforts since the mid-2000s have led to ambitious new control and elimination targets set for 2020 by the World Health Organisation. While these global aspirations represent significant policy momentum, there are multifaceted challenges in controlling infectious diseases in resource-poor local contexts that need to be acknowledged, understood and engaged. However a number of recent publications have emphasised the “neglected” status of applied social science research on NTDs. In light of the 2020 targets, this paper explores the social science/NTD literature and unpacks some of the ways in which social inquiry can help support effective and sustainable interventions. Five priority areas are discussed, including on policy processes, health systems capacity, compliance and resistance to interventions, education and behaviour change, and community participation. The paper shows that despite the multifaceted value of having anthropological and sociological perspectives integrated into NTD programmes, contemporary efforts underutilise this potential. This is reflective of the dominance of top-down information flows and technocratic approaches in global health. To counter this tendency, social research needs to be more than an afterthought; integrating social inquiry into the planning, monitoring and evaluating process will help ensure that flexibility and adaptability to local realities are built into interventions. More emphasis on social science perspectives can also help link NTD control to broader social determinants of health, especially important given the major social and economic inequalities that continue to underpin transmission in endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bardosh
- Centre of African Studies, School of Social and Political Science, College of Humanities and Social Science, The University of Edinburgh, 58 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD UK ; Division of Pathway Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB UK
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