1
|
Greenland K, Collin C, Sinba Etu E, Guye M, Hika D, Macleod D, Schmidt WP, Shafi Abdurahman O, Last A, Burton MJ. Comparison of metrics for assessing face washing behaviour for trachoma control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012399. [PMID: 39141680 PMCID: PMC11346966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
There is currently no single, easy-to-use, reliable indicator to assess whether a face has been washed with soap in the context of trachoma elimination. This study aimed to compare survey report, script-based pictorial recall and facial cleanliness indicators as alternatives to structured observation for measuring face washing behaviour. This method validation study was nested in the Stronger-SAFE trial, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Structured observation was conducted in randomly selected households for three hours from dawn. The primary caregiver in each household participated in a survey to capture (self)-reported behaviour and/or script-based pictorial recall, a routine-based diary activity to covertly capture information on face washing behaviour of themself and any children aged 1-12. Children 4-12 years old directly participated in the survey and pictorial recall in a subset of households. The facial cleanliness of children aged 1-12 was assessed qualitatively and using the quantitative Personal Hygiene Assessment Tool (qPHAT). Prevalence estimates, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were computed for each behavioural indicator with observation data as the gold standard. The appropriateness of script-based pictorial recall was assessed using baseline and 3-month follow-up data. Baseline data were collected from 204 households in 68 clusters. Survey estimates of face washing and face washing with soap among caregivers and children were 32% to 60% and 5% to 31% higher than observed behaviour, respectively. Face washing prevalence estimates from pictorial recall were lower than survey estimates and comparable with observations for some face washing with soap indicators (0.3% to 13% higher than observations). Specificity of pictorial recall indicators was high (85% to 99%), but the sensitivity was low (0% to 67%), resulting in a low positive predictive value for all indicators. Both qualitative facial cleanliness indicators and qPHAT scores were poorly correlated with observed face washing earlier that morning. Pictorial recall overestimated face washing with soap among both caregivers and children following intervention delivery but not at baseline. Survey (self)-reported data on face washing is highly inaccurate. Script-based pictorial recall does not correctly classify those who wash their face with soap, and is subject to differential bias following intervention exposure, and facial cleanliness is a poor indicator of recent face washing in settings where faces become rapidly dirty again after washing. Alternatives to structured observation cannot be recommended to monitor the effectiveness of face washing interventions in community settings. Trial Registration ISRCTN registry ISRCTN40760473, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN40760473.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Greenland
- Department for Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Collin
- Department for Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Edao Sinba Etu
- Berhan Public Health & Eye Care Consultancy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Meseret Guye
- The Fred Hollows Foundation Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Demitu Hika
- The Fred Hollows Foundation Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - David Macleod
- International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, LSHTM, London, United Kingdom
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, LSHTM, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wolf-Peter Schmidt
- Department for Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Oumer Shafi Abdurahman
- The Fred Hollows Foundation Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, LSHTM, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Last
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, LSHTM, London, United Kingdom
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
| | - Matthew J. Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, LSHTM, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Caleon RL, Admassu F, Aragie S, Hailu D, Dagnew A, Zeru T, Wittberg DM, Thompson IJB, Abdu S, Beyecha S, Birhanu T, Getachew H, Getnet B, Kabtu E, Shibiru M, Tekew S, Wondimteka B, Lietman TM, Nash SD, Freeman MC, Keenan JD. Photographic grading to evaluate facial cleanliness and trachoma among children in Amhara region, Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012257. [PMID: 38991011 PMCID: PMC11290635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promotion of facial cleanliness is recommended for the elimination of blinding trachoma, largely because of observational studies that have found an association between various measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. However, when a field grader assesses both facial cleanliness and trachoma, associations may be biased. Assessment of photographs of the face and conjunctiva by masked graders may provide a less biased estimate of the relationship between facial cleanliness and trachoma. METHODS Face photographs, conjunctival photographs, and conjunctival swabs were obtained on a random sample of 0-9-year-old children from each of 40 communities in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Face photographs were assessed for the presence of seven measures of an unclean face (i.e., wet nasal discharge, dry nasal discharge, wet ocular discharge, dry ocular discharge, food, dust/dirt, and flies) by three independent masked photo-graders. Conjunctival photographs were similarly graded in a masked fashion for signs of clinically active trachoma. Conjunctival swabs were processed for Chlamydia trachomatis DNA. RESULTS Of 2073 children with complete data, 808 (39%) had evidence of clinically active trachoma, 150 (7%) had evidence of ocular chlamydia infection, and 2524 (91%) had at least one measure of an unclean face. Dry ocular discharge had the strongest association with clinically active trachoma (age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.6) and ocular chlamydia infection (PR 1.9, 95%CI 1.3-2.9), although significant associations were observed between each of the measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. CONCLUSIONS Masked assessment of face and conjunctival photographs confirmed prior observational studies that have noted associations between various measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. The causal relationship between facial uncleanliness and trachoma is unclear since many features used to measure facial cleanliness (e.g., ocular discharge, nasal discharge, and flies) could be consequences of antecedent ocular chlamydia infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02754583, clinicaltrials.gov.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramoncito L. Caleon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Fisseha Admassu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Aragie
- The Carter Center Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | | | - Adane Dagnew
- The Carter Center Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Taye Zeru
- Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Dionna M. Wittberg
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Isabel J. B. Thompson
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Seid Abdu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Social Beyecha
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tibebe Birhanu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Habib Getachew
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Banchalam Getnet
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Endale Kabtu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Meskerem Shibiru
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Tekew
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Bilen Wondimteka
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Thomas M. Lietman
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Scott D. Nash
- The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Matthew C. Freeman
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jeremy D. Keenan
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang J, Pitol AK, Kinung’hi S, Angelo T, Emery AM, Cieplinski A, Templeton MR, Braun L. The lethal effect of soap on Schistosoma mansoni cercariae in water. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012372. [PMID: 39074137 PMCID: PMC11309484 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease which is spread through skin contact with water containing Schistosoma cercariae. Drug treatment has been the main control method, but it does not prevent reinfection. The use of soap can be a complementary measure to reduce transmission. Therefore, this study investigates the quantitative effect of different soaps on the mortality of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. METHODOLOGY Four soaps including two powder soaps (Kleesoft and Omo) and two bar soaps (B29 and Rungu) which are used in a schistosomiasis-endemic Tanzanian village were studied. S. mansoni cercariae were exposed to powder soaps of 0 (control), 10, 50, 75, 100 and 1000 mg/L and to bar soaps of 0 (control), 100, 500 and 1000 mg/L. The highest concentration of 1000 mg/L was selected based on the laboratory-estimated average soap concentration during handwashing. Cercariae were observed under a microscope after 0, 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes of exposure to determine their survival. CONCLUSIONS All four soaps can kill S. mansoni cercariae and this lethal effect was related to soap concentration and exposure time. At the highest concentration of 1000 mg/L, all cercariae were dead at 5 minutes post-exposure with two powder soaps and Rungu, while 100% cercarial death was achieved between 5 minutes to 15 minutes for B29. Almost all cercariae survived after being exposed to 10 mg/L powder soaps and 100 mg/L bar soaps for 60 minutes. Powder soaps were more lethal than bar soaps. Considering the widely varying concentrations of soap during real-world hygiene activities and the necessity for a very high soap concentration to eliminate all cercariae in a short 5-minute exposure, providing the efficacy of soap in preventing schistosomiasis becomes challenging. Future studies should investigate whether soap can influence alternative mechanisms such as making cercariae unable to penetrate the skin, thereby providing protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaodi Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ana K. Pitol
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Safari Kinung’hi
- National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Teckla Angelo
- School of Life Science and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Aidan M. Emery
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Cieplinski
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R. Templeton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Braun
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Srivathsan A, Abdou A, Al-Khatib T, Apadinuwe SC, Badiane MD, Bucumi V, Chisenga T, Kabona G, Kabore M, Kanyi SK, Bella L, M’po N, Masika M, Minnih A, Sitoe HM, Mishra S, Olobio N, Omar FJ, Phiri I, Sanha S, Seife F, Sharma S, Tekeraoi R, Traore L, Watitu T, Bol YY, Borlase A, Deiner MS, Renneker KK, Hooper PJ, Emerson PM, Vasconcelos A, Arnold BF, Porco TC, Hollingsworth TD, Lietman TM, Blumberg S. District-Level Forecast of Achieving Trachoma Elimination as a Public Health Problem By 2030: An Ensemble Modelling Approach. Clin Infect Dis 2024; 78:S101-S107. [PMID: 38662700 PMCID: PMC11045026 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Assessing the feasibility of 2030 as a target date for global elimination of trachoma, and identification of districts that may require enhanced treatment to meet World Health Organization (WHO) elimination criteria by this date are key challenges in operational planning for trachoma programmes. Here we address these challenges by prospectively evaluating forecasting models of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) prevalence, leveraging ensemble-based approaches. Seven candidate probabilistic models were developed to forecast district-wise TF prevalence in 11 760 districts, trained using district-level data on the population prevalence of TF in children aged 1-9 years from 2004 to 2022. Geographical location, history of mass drug administration treatment, and previously measured prevalence data were included in these models as key predictors. The best-performing models were included in an ensemble, using weights derived from their relative likelihood scores. To incorporate the inherent stochasticity of disease transmission and challenges of population-level surveillance, we forecasted probability distributions for the TF prevalence in each geographic district, rather than predicting a single value. Based on our probabilistic forecasts, 1.46% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43-1.48%) of all districts in trachoma-endemic countries, equivalent to 172 districts, will exceed the 5% TF control threshold in 2030 with the current interventions. Global elimination of trachoma as a public health problem by 2030 may require enhanced intervention and/or surveillance of high-risk districts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ariktha Srivathsan
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Amza Abdou
- Programme National de Santé Oculaire, Ministère De La Santé Publique, Niamey, Niger
| | - Tawfik Al-Khatib
- Prevention of Blindness Program, Ministry of Public Health & Population, Sana'a, Yemen
| | | | - Mouctar D Badiane
- Programme National de Promotion de La Santé Oculaire, Ministère de la Santé et de L'Action sociale, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Victor Bucumi
- Département En Charge des Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Ministère De La Santé Publique Et De La Lutte Contre Le Sida, Bujumbura, Burundi
| | - Tina Chisenga
- Ministry of Health Public Health Department, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - George Kabona
- Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Martin Kabore
- Programme national de lutte contre les maladies tropicales négligées, Ministère de la santé et de l'hygiène publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Sarjo Kebba Kanyi
- The National Eye Health Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, Kanifing, The Gambia
| | - Lucienne Bella
- Programme National De Lutte Contre La Cécité, Ministère De La Santé Publique, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Nekoua M’po
- Programme National De Lutte Contre Les Maladies Transmissibles, Ministère De La Santé, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Michael Masika
- Department of Clinical Services, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Abdellahi Minnih
- Département Des Maladies Transmissibles, Ministère De La Santé Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritania
| | - Henis Mior Sitoe
- Direcção Nacional De Saúde Pública Ministerio Da Saude, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Nicholas Olobio
- National Trachoma Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Isaac Phiri
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Ministry of Health & Child Welfare, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Salimato Sanha
- Programa Nacional De Saúde De Visão, Minsap, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Fikre Seife
- Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Rabebe Tekeraoi
- Eye Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, South Tarawa, Kiribati
| | - Lamine Traore
- Programme National de la Santé Oculaire, Ministère de la Santé, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Yak Yak Bol
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Ministry of Health, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Anna Borlase
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael S Deiner
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kristen K Renneker
- International Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | - P J Hooper
- International Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | - Paul M Emerson
- International Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | - Andreia Vasconcelos
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Travis C Porco
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - T Déirdre Hollingsworth
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas M Lietman
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Seth Blumberg
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dyer CEF, Kalua K, Chisambi AB, Wand H, McManus H, Liu B, Kaldor JM, Vaz Nery S. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Mass Drug Administration to Eliminate Trachoma as a Public Health Problem in Malawi. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2024; 31:127-133. [PMID: 36987395 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2023.2194409] [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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Following a national population-based trachoma survey in Malawi one round of azithromycin mass drug administration (MDA) was carried out, with a post-MDA impact survey showing TF prevalence below 5% and considered eliminated as a public health problem. However, active trachoma was still present in over 200 children. We assessed whether water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) factors were associated with ongoing presence of TF in children aged 1-9 years following MDA. METHODS A secondary analysis was performed on a sub-set of the post-MDA impact survey data for children aged 1-9 years. We used a logistic regression analysis, adjusted for clustering at the household and village level. RESULTS Among 16,142 children aged 1-9 years, 209 (1.3%) had TF after MDA. Factors associated with a significantly lower odds of TF after MDA were living in a household with a handwashing facility (aOR: 0.37) and living in a household where water for washing is located further away from the home (30 min away aOR: 0.39, p = .034, or more than 1 h away aOR: 0.31, p = .018) compared with water in the yard. CONCLUSION The inverse association between a domestic handwashing facility and TF is consistent with previous findings, but the association of increasing distance to collect water for washing with a reduced risk of TF was unexpected and may reflect the impact of drought and unmeasured behavioural factors related to water usage. A more comprehensive collection of sociodemographic and WASH factor information in population-based trachoma surveys will provide insight into achieving and maintaining low levels of trachoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clare E F Dyer
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Khumbo Kalua
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
- Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alvin B Chisambi
- Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Handan Wand
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hamish McManus
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bette Liu
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - John M Kaldor
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Susana Vaz Nery
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shafi Abdurahman O, Last A, Macleod D, Habtamu E, Versteeg B, Dumessa G, Guye M, Nure R, Adugna D, Miecha H, Greenland K, Burton MJ. Trachoma risk factors in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011679. [PMID: 37934731 PMCID: PMC10629622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness, is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Despite enormous disease control efforts and encouraging progress, trachoma remains a significant public health problem in 44 countries. Ethiopia has the greatest burden of trachoma worldwide, however, robust data exploring transmission risk factors and the association between socio-economic status is lacking from some regions. This is the first study to investigate these factors in this South-Eastern region of Oromia, Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A total of 1211 individuals were enrolled from 247 households in Shashemene Rural district in Oromia Region between 11th April and 25th June 2018, of whom 628 (51.9%) were female and 526 (43.4%) were children aged 1-9 years. Three standardised ophthalmic nurses examined each participant for the presence of active trachoma using the WHO simplified trachoma grading system. Conjunctival swab samples were collected from the upper tarsal conjunctiva of the left eye of each participant. Ct was detected using quantitative PCR. Risk factor data were collected through structured interviews and direct observations. Clinical signs of trachomatous inflammation-follicular among children aged 1-9 (TF1-9) were observed in at least one eye of 106/526 (20.2%) and trachomatous inflammation-intense among children aged 1-9 (TI1-9) were observed in at least one eye of 10/526 (1.9%). We detected Ct by PCR in 23 individuals, of whom 18 (78.3%) were in children aged 1-9 years. Among the 106 children aged 1-9 years with TF, 12 (11.3%) were Ct PCR positive and among 20 children aged 1-9 years with TI, 4 (20.0%) were Ct PCR positive. In a multivariable model, adjusting for household clustering, active trachoma was associated with younger age, the poorest households (aOR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.21-5.51), presence of flies on the face (aOR = 2.87, 95% CI 1.69-6.46), and ocular discharge (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.03-3.24). Pre-school children face washing more than once a day had lower odds of having active trachoma (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.19-0.84). The same was true for washing children's clothing at least once per week (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.33-1.02). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Younger age, personal hygiene in this age group (presence of ocular and nasal discharges, infrequent washing of faces and clothing) and fly-eye contacts are potential risk factors for trachoma in this setting, suggesting that hygiene interventions and environmental improvements are required to suppress transmission to ensure sustained reduction in disease burden Further studies are needed to evaluate these interventions for trachoma control and elimination. Trachoma remains a disease associated with lower socio-economic status, emphasising the need for continued implementation of control measures in addition to poverty reduction interventions in this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oumer Shafi Abdurahman
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- The Fred Hollows Foundation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anna Last
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Macleod
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Esmael Habtamu
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bart Versteeg
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Meseret Guye
- The Fred Hollows Foundation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Rufia Nure
- The Fred Hollows Foundation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Adugna
- Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hirpha Miecha
- Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Katie Greenland
- Environmental Health Group, Department for Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical. Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Watson J, Osman IME, Amon-Tanoh M, Deola C, MacDougall A, Cumming O. A cluster-randomised controlled equivalence trial of the Surprise Soap handwashing intervention among older children living in a refugee settlement in Sudan. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e012633. [PMID: 37827726 PMCID: PMC10583099 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing handwashing with soap (HWWS) among older children in emergency settings can have a large public health impact, however, evidence on what works is limited. One promising approach is the 'Surprise Soap' intervention in which a novel soap with an embedded toy is delivered to children in a short, participatory household session that includes a glitter game and HWWS practice. Here, we evaluate this intervention against a standard intervention in a complex emergency setting. METHODS A cluster-randomised controlled equivalence trial was conducted in Naivasha refugee settlement, Sudan. Blinding was not possible. 203 randomly selected households, with at least one child aged 5-12, were randomised to receive the Surprise Soap intervention (n=101) or a standard intervention comprising a short household session with health messaging and plain soap distribution (n=102). The primary outcome was the proportion of prespecified potential HWWS events observed for children aged 5-12, accompanied by HWWS, at baseline, 4, 12 and 16 weeks post intervention delivery. RESULTS 200 households were included in the analyses: 101 intervention and 99 control. No difference in intervention effectiveness was observed at any follow-up (4 weeks: adjusted rate ratio (RR) 1.2, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.7; 12 weeks: RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.1; 16 weeks: RR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.5). However, we observed increased HWWS in both arms at 4 weeks (27 and 23 percentage point increase in the intervention and control arm, respectively) that was sustained at 16 weeks. CONCLUSIONS We find that the Surprise Soap intervention is no more effective at increasing older children's HWWS than a standard, household-level, health-based intervention in this complex humanitarian emergency. There appears to be no marginal benefit in terms of HWWS that would justify the additional cost of implementing the Surprise Soap intervention. Further trials that include a passive control arm are needed to determine the independent effects of each intervention and guide future intervention design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Watson
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Maud Amon-Tanoh
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Amy MacDougall
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Selby R, Jeyam A, Tate A, Kebede F, Downs P. Potential mitigating role of ivermectin on the spread of Chlamydia trachomatis by Musca sorbens. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011662. [PMID: 37883529 PMCID: PMC10602231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Trachoma is the world's most frequent cause of blindness from an infectious agent. The disease caused by infection is associated with lack of access to sanitation and low hygiene standards. Trachoma is controlled through the Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (SAFE) strategy, which delivers azithromycin (AZM) mass drug administration (MDA) in endemic areas. The putative vector Musca sorbens principally reproduce in human faecal matter left in the environment due to open defecation. Ivermectin (IVM) is on the WHO's essential medicines list and is administered as preventative chemotherapy against two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)-onchocerciasis, as an annual or bi-annual treatment, and lymphatic filariasis, as an annual treatment in combination with albendazole. Ivermectin has a known inhibitive effect on insects that reproduce in dung. To assess if IVM could be a viable vector control tool against M. sorbens, this study evaluates existing data from trachoma, onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration (MDA) operations in Ethiopia. Persistent and recrudescent trachoma in evaluation units (EUs) were examined for whether AZM MDA in EUs was accompanied by IVM MDA, and whether co-administration was associated with greater likelihood of trachoma control. Results show an association suggesting that EUs that received both IVM and AZM MDA benefit from improved control of trachoma in persistent or recrudescent areas, when compared to EUs that received AZM MDA. This initial investigation supports the potential for ivermectin's use to support SAFE. Findings warrant further work to validate ivermectin's impact on M. sorbens reproduction through controlled lab and field-based studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Selby
- Sightsavers international, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Anita Jeyam
- Sightsavers international, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tate
- Sightsavers international, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, United Kingdom
| | | | - Philip Downs
- Sightsavers international, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Adhikari S, Hunter E, Vossenberg JVD, Thomas J. A review of latrine front-end characteristics associated with microbial infection risk; reveals a lack of pathogen density data. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 254:114261. [PMID: 37734133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114261] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Unsafe sanitation accounts for an estimated 898,000 global deaths annually. The faecal pathogen transmission pathway is complex with several possible routes. Latrine front-end characteristics and usage behaviours are one key transmission pathway for microbial pathogens, however, there has not yet been a synthesis of the available research. This review aims to compare the microbial infection risks with latrine front-end components including any quantified microbial densities within the household latrines. This review was conducted with no restriction on the geographical location of the research. Of 118 studies reviewed, only ten (8%) have quantified the microbial density inside the household latrines compared to 109 (92%) measuring the infection risks. The reported risks were most frequent for specific bacterial (n = 34), and helminths infections (n = 32) compared to diarrhoea (n = 23), combined (n = 15), protozoan (n = 4), and viral (n = 4) infections. The infections risk decreased for using latrines lying at a higher position on the sanitation ladder (for example flush latrines) compared to those lying lower (for example pit latrines). The trend was similar for using floor materials that were easier to clean and less favourable for pathogen survival inside the latrines (for example, concrete as opposed to earth). Faecal coliforms were reported highest on the surface of the squat pan (743 CFU/cm2) of pour-flush latrines and helminths on earth floors of pit latrines (1.5 eggs and larvae per gram of soil). Irrespective of latrine type and its position on the sanitation ladder, a dirty latrine, evidenced by a visible lack of cleanliness, significantly increased the risk for all infections. This study recommends that effective microbial infection risk reduction in latrines can be gained efficiently by ensuring washable surfaces and consistent cleaning practices. Future studies should include more rigorous measurements of microbial densities in various latrine types incorporating the different front-end components and usage behaviours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabita Adhikari
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Erin Hunter
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Behavioural, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, United States.
| | - Jack van de Vossenberg
- Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering Department, IHE Delft Institute of Water Education, the Netherlands.
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kebede F, Jamal M. Prevalence of active trachoma infection and associated factors post-war resettled population in raya kobo districts, North East Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study in 2022. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1486. [PMID: 37554953 PMCID: PMC10404653 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Active trachoma infection poses a serious threat to public health, particularly for those who live in an unprivileged area and has practiced open-field defecation. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of active trachoma infection and associated factors in the post-war resettled population in Raya Kobo district, North East Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study in 2022. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 602 participants randomly selected in 14 slum villages in Raya Kobo from February 16th to March 30th, 2023. After the data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and entered into Epi-data version 3.2. The study participants were chosen using a two-stage sampling process. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors for active trachoma infection. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were claimed for the strength of association at p < 0.05. Results Overall, 602 (99.9%) study participants were included in the final analysis. At the end of the study period, 126 (20.9) participants developed active trachoma infection. On multivariable analysis, were aged ≥45 years (AOR = 7.9, 95% CI = 2.4-25.3), history of eye infection (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI = 2.4-10.4, p = 0.001), were poor wealth index (AOR = 9.2, 95% CI = 2.7-23.7), having separated kitchen (AOR = 4.05, 95% CI = 1.86-8.86), living with animals (AOR = 5.92, 95% CI = 2.31-14.7) and having got administration of mass-drug (AOR = 8.9, 95% CI = 2.36-33.6) were significant risk factors for active trachoma infection. Whereas, face washing practice regularly (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.127-0.43), and toilet availability (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.20-0.97) were preventive factors for active trachoma infection. Conclusion A significant prevalence of active trachoma infection was reported in the area as compared with previous findings and urgent clinical intervention, and the WHO critical SAFE strategies (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement) implementation is highly needed in the area. In addition, healthcare providers should focus on information dissemination on proper latrine utilization, and washing the face regularly to prevent active trachoma infection is highly recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fassikaw Kebede
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostaticsCollege of Health ScienceWoldia UniversityWoldiaEthiopia
| | - Muhammad Jamal
- Mersa Health CentreHabru Woreda North WolloNorth WolloEthiopia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shama AT, Terefa DR, Geta ET, Cheme MC, Biru B, Feyisa JW, Lema M, Desisa AE, Feyisa BR, Gebre DS. Latrine utilization and associated factors among districts implementing and not-implementing community-led total sanitation and hygiene in East Wollega, Western Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288444. [PMID: 37440482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Discharge of excreta to the environment lead to surface and groundwater contamination and human exposure to disease-causing micro-organisms. There is limitation of evidences regarding the latrine utilization among community-led total sanitation and hygiene implemented and non-implemented districts of the East Wollega Zone. Hence, this study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of latrine utilization among households in community-led total sanitation and hygiene implemented and non-implemented Districts in East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted. A Multi-stage sampling technique was applied to select the 461 households. Data were collected using interviews and observations guided by a pre-structured questionnaire. Data were entered using Epi Data and exported to SPSS software version 25 for data recording, cleaning, and statistical analysis. Bivariable logistic regression was run to identify the candidate variables at p-value <0.25. Variables that had associations with latrine utilization in the bi-variable analysis were entered together into multivariable logistic regression. An Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated and P-value< 0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant association. RESULT The overall prevalence of latrine utilization was found to be 52.7% (95%CI:48%, 57.3%). Religion (AOR = 0.149;95%CI:0.044,0.506), education (AOR = 3.861;95%CI:1.642,9.077), occupation, absence of children <5 years (AOR = 4.724;95%CI:2.313,9.648), toilet cleaning (AOR = 10.662;95%CI:5.571,20.403), frequency of latrine construction (AOR = 6.441;95%CI:2.203,18.826), maintenance need (AOR = 6.446; 95%CI:3.023,13.744), distance from health institution (AOR = 0.987; 95%CI:0.978, 0.996), distance from kebele office (AOR = 6.478; 95%CI:2.137,19.635), and latrine distance from dwelling (AOR = 11.656; 95%CI:2.108, 64.44) were the factors associated with latrine use. CONCLUSION The latrine utilization in this study is low as compared to other studies. Religion, education, occupation, absence of children <5 years, toilet cleaning, frequency of latrine construction, maintenance need of the toilet, distance from health institution, distance from kebele, and latrine distance from dwelling are the associated factors of latrine utilization. Both households and health workers have to work together to improve latrine utilization and the safe disposal of children's feces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adisu Tafari Shama
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Dufera Rikitu Terefa
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Edosa Tesfaye Geta
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Melese Chego Cheme
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Bayise Biru
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
- Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Jira Wakoya Feyisa
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Matiyos Lema
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Adisu Ewunetu Desisa
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| | - Bikila Regassa Feyisa
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Dejene Seyoum Gebre
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Barazanji M, Ngo JD, Powe JA, Schneider KP, Rychtář J, Taylor D. Modeling the "F" in "SAFE": The dynamic game of facial cleanliness in trachoma prevention. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287464. [PMID: 37352249 PMCID: PMC10289400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287464] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTDs) caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is a leading cause of infectious blindness. Efforts are underway to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem by using the "SAFE" strategy. While mathematical models are now standard tools used to support elimination efforts and there are a variety of models studying different aspects of trachoma transmission dynamics, the "F" component of the strategy corresponding to facial cleanliness has received very little attention so far. In this paper, we incorporate human behavior into a standard epidemiological model and develop a dynamical game during which individuals practice facial cleanliness based on their epidemiological status and perceived benefits and costs. We found that the number of infectious individuals generally increases with the difficulty to access a water source. However, this increase happens only during three transition periods and the prevalence stays constant otherwise. Consequently, improving access to water can help eliminate trachoma, but the improvement needs to be significant enough to cross at least one of the three transition thresholds; otherwise the improved access will have no noticeable effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Barazanji
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Janesah D. Ngo
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Jule A. Powe
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Kimberley P. Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Jan Rychtář
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Dewey Taylor
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
MacLeod C, Braun L, Caruso BA, Chase C, Chidziwisano K, Chipungu J, Dreibelbis R, Ejemot-Nwadiaro R, Gordon B, Esteves Mills J, Cumming O. Recommendations for hand hygiene in community settings: a scoping review of current international guidelines. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e068887. [PMID: 37344109 PMCID: PMC10314431 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hand hygiene is an important measure to prevent disease transmission. OBJECTIVE To summarise current international guideline recommendations for hand hygiene in community settings and to assess to what extent they are consistent and evidence based. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We included international guidelines with one or more recommendations on hand hygiene in community settings-categorised as domestic, public or institutional-published by international organisations, in English or French, between 1 January 1990 and 15 November 2021. DATA SOURCES To identify relevant guidelines, we searched the WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing Database, Google, websites of international organisations, and contacted expert organisations and individuals. CHARTING METHODS Recommendations were mapped to four areas related to hand hygiene: (1) effective hand hygiene; (2) minimum requirements; (3) behaviour change and (4) government measures. Recommendations were assessed for consistency, concordance and whether supported by evidence. RESULTS We identified 51 guidelines containing 923 recommendations published between 1999 and 2021 by multilateral agencies and international non-governmental organisations. Handwashing with soap is consistently recommended as the preferred method for hand hygiene across all community settings. Most guidelines specifically recommend handwashing with plain soap and running water for at least 20 s; single-use paper towels for hand drying; and alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) as a complement or alternative to handwashing. There are inconsistent and discordant recommendations for water quality for handwashing, affordable and effective alternatives to soap and ABHR, and the design of handwashing stations. There are gaps in recommendations on soap and water quantity, behaviour change approaches and government measures required for effective hand hygiene. Less than 10% of recommendations are supported by any cited evidence. CONCLUSION While current international guidelines consistently recommend handwashing with soap across community settings, there remain gaps in recommendations where clear evidence-based guidance might support more effective policy and investment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara MacLeod
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London, UK
| | - Laura Braun
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London, UK
| | - Bethany A Caruso
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Claire Chase
- Water and Sanitation Program, World Bank Group, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kondwani Chidziwisano
- Department of Environmental Health and WASHTED, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jenala Chipungu
- Social and Behavioural Science Department, Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Robert Dreibelbis
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London, UK
| | - Regina Ejemot-Nwadiaro
- Department of Public Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Bruce Gordon
- Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Asmare ZA, Assefa NL, Abebe D, Nigatu SG, Alimaw YA. Trachoma prevention practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged under nine years in Andabet district, northwest Ethiopia, 2022: A multi-level analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011433. [PMID: 37390045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The world health organization (WHO) adopted the Surgery, Antibiotic, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement (SAFE) strategy for the prevention of trachoma, and different prevention strategies have been employed in Andabet district. Trachoma still has a high prevalence despite these efforts. So, it is imperative to assess ground trachoma prevention practice (TPP) since there are insufficient studies in the study area. OBJECTIVE To determine the magnitude and factors associated with TPP among mothers having children aged under nine years in Andabet district, Northwest Ethiopia. METHOD A community-based cross-sectional study involving 624 participants was conducted June 1-30, 2022. Systematic random sampling was carried out to select study participants. Multi-level binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with poor TPP. Descriptive and summary statistics were performed and variables with p-value < 0.05 in the best-fitted model were declared to be significantly associated with poor TPP. RESULTS In this study, the proportion of poor TPP was found to be 50.16% (95%CI = 46.23, 54.08). In the multi-variable multi-level logistic regression; having no formal education (AOR = 2.95; 95%CI: 1.41,6.15) and primary education (AOR = 2.33; 95%CI:1.04, 5.24), being a farmer (AOR = 3.02; 95%CI:1.73,5.28), and merchant (AOR = 2.63; 95%CI:1.20, 5.75), time taken to water point >30 minutes (AOR = 4.60,95CI:1.30,16.26) and didn't receive health education about trachoma (AOR = 2.36;95CI:1.16,4.79) were significantly associated with poor TPP. CONCLUSION The proportion of poor TPP was high relative to other studies. Level of education, occupation, time taken to the water point, and health education were significantly associated with poor TPP. Therefore, taking special attention to these high-risk groups could decrease the poor TPP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zufan Alamrie Asmare
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Natnael Lakachew Assefa
- Department of Optometry, School of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Dagmawi Abebe
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Gedlu Nigatu
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Yezinash Addis Alimaw
- Department of Optometry, School of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brial E, Aunger R, Muangi WC, Baxter W. Development of a novel hand cleansing product for low-income contexts: The case of tab soap. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283741. [PMID: 37256865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Handwashing with soap is a widely advocated public health measure, but seldom practiced, partly because it is often difficult (especially outside of rich Western country contexts) to make both soap and water readily available in relevant situations. This study used both Behaviour Centred Design and Human Centred Design to guide development of a novel hand cleansing technology appropriate for the context of post-toilet hand cleansing in resource-poor societies. Extensive prototyping and field testing resulted in the pilot production of 'tab' soap, a small but durable single-use, decomposable substrate embedded with soap. It can be produced in dispenser roll or tear-off formats. With this affordable solution, one may use soap without worrying about contamination pretty much anytime and anywhere. A small-scale field test showed that all poor households in rural and peri-urban areas in Tanzania included in the proof-of-concept study (N = 12 households) would use the product reliably over the medium term. Tab soap awaits full-scale production and marketing but could make hand cleansing a more popular practice around the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward Brial
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Aunger
- Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Winnie Costancia Muangi
- School of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Economics, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Weston Baxter
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Muche N, Wasihun Y, Wondiye H, Bogale EK, Anagaw TF. Behavioral Responses for Face Cleanliness Message to Prevent Trachoma Among Mothers Having Children Age 1-9 Years Old, in Fogera District, Northwest Ethiopia: An Application of Extended Parallel Process Model. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:1927-1941. [PMID: 37228742 PMCID: PMC10204751 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s412380] [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: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Trachoma is an eye disease caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. This infection causes papillary and/or follicular inflammation of the tarsal conjunctiva referred to as active trachoma. Active trachoma prevalence among 1 to 9 years old children is 27.2% in Fogera district (study area). Many people still require the implementation of the face cleanliness components of the SAFE strategy. Even if face cleanness is an important component to prevent trachoma, there is limited research done on this area. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess behavioral responses to face cleanliness messages to prevent trachoma among mothers having children aged 1 to 9 years old. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with the guidance of an extended parallel process model in Fogera District from December 01 to December 30, 2022. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 611 study participants. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify predictors of behavioral responses using SPSS V.23 significant variables were declared by AOR at a 95% confidence interval and a p-value <0.05. Result Among the total participants, 292 (47.8%) were in danger control. Residence [AOR = 2.91; 95% CI: (1.44-3.86)], marital status [AOR = 0.79; 95% CI: (0.667-0.939)], level of education [AOR = 2.74; 95% CI: (1.546-3.65)], family size [AOR = 0.57; 95% CI: (0.453-0.867)], round trip to collect water [AOR = 0.79; 95% CI: (0.423-0.878)], having information about face washing [AOR = 3.79; 95% CI: (2.661-5.952)], Source of an information health facility [AOR = 2.76; 95% CI: (1.645-4.965)], school [AOR = 3.68; 95% CI: (1.648-7.530)], health extension workers [AOR = 3.96; 95% CI: (2.928-6.752)], Women development army [AOR = 2.809; 95% CI: (1.681-4.962)], knowledge [AOR = 2.065; 95% CI: (1.325-4.427)] self-esteem [AOR = 1.013; 95% CI: (1.001-1.025)], self-control [AOR = 1.132; 95%CI: (1.04-1.24)], and future orientation [AOR = 2.16; 95% CI: (1.345-4.524)] were found to be statistically significant predictors of behavioral response. Conclusion Less than half of the participants were in the danger control response. Residence, marital status, level of education, family size, face-washing information, source of information, knowledge, self-esteem, self-control, and future orientation were independent predictors of face cleanliness. Strategies of face cleanliness messages should give high attention to perceived efficacy with consideration of perceived threat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natnael Muche
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioural science, school of Public Health College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Yosef Wasihun
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioural science, school of Public Health College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Habtamu Wondiye
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioural science, school of Public Health College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Eyob Ketema Bogale
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioural science, school of Public Health College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Fentabil Anagaw
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioural science, school of Public Health College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Watson J, Amon-Tanoh MA, Deola C, Haji MA, Sheikh MR, Mohamud FA, Ali SY, MacDougall A, Cumming O. Effect of a novel hygiene intervention on older children's handwashing in a humanitarian setting in Kahda district, Somalia: A cluster-randomised controlled equivalence trial. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 250:114163. [PMID: 37011505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Improving handwashing with soap (HWWS) among children in humanitarian emergencies has the potential to reduce the transmission of several important infectious diseases. However, there is limited evidence on which approaches are effective in increasing HWWS among children in humanitarian settings. One recent innovation - the "Surprise Soap" intervention - was shown to be successful in a small-scale efficacy trial in a humanitarian setting in Iraq. This intervention includes soap with embedded toys delivered through a short household session comprising a glitter game, instruction of how and when to wash hands, and HWWS practice. Whilst promising, this approach has not been evaluated at programmatic scale in a complex humanitarian setting. METHODS We conducted a cluster-randomised controlled equivalence trial of the Surprise Soap intervention in IDP camps in Kahda district, Somalia. Proportionate stratified random sampling was employed to recruit 200 households, with at least one child aged 5-12, across the camps. Eligible households were randomly allocated to receive the Surprise Soap intervention (n = 100) or an active comparator handwashing intervention in which plain soap was delivered in a short household session comprising standard health-based messaging and instruction of how and when to wash hands (n = 100). The primary outcome was the proportion of pre-specified occasions when HWWS was practiced by children aged 5-12 years, measured at baseline, 4-weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks post invention delivery. RESULTS HWWS increased in both groups (by 48 percentage points in the intervention group and 51 percentage points in the control group, at the 4-week follow up), however, there was no evidence of a difference in HWWS between the groups at the 4-week (adjusted RR (aRR) = 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1), 12-week (aRR = 1.1, 95% CI 0.9-1.3), or 16-week (aRR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.2) follow-up. CONCLUSIONS In this complex humanitarian setting, where soap availability and past exposure to handwashing promotion was low, it appears that well-designed, household-level targeted handwashing interventions that include soap provision can increase child HWWS and potentially reduce disease risk, but the Surprise Soap intervention offers no marginal benefit over a standard intervention that would justify the additional costs.
Collapse
|
18
|
Stapleton F, Abad JC, Barabino S, Burnett A, Iyer G, Lekhanont K, Li T, Liu Y, Navas A, Obinwanne CJ, Qureshi R, Roshandel D, Sahin A, Shih K, Tichenor A, Jones L. TFOS lifestyle: Impact of societal challenges on the ocular surface. Ocul Surf 2023; 28:165-199. [PMID: 37062429 PMCID: PMC10102706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Societal factors associated with ocular surface diseases were mapped using a framework to characterize the relationship between the individual, their health and environment. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating factors on ocular surface diseases were considered in a systematic review. Age and sex effects were generally well-characterized for inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune and trauma-related conditions. Sex and gender, through biological, socio-economic, and cultural factors impact the prevalence and severity of disease, access to, and use of, care. Genetic factors, race, smoking and co-morbidities are generally well characterized, with interdependencies with geographical, employment and socioeconomic factors. Living and working conditions include employment, education, water and sanitation, poverty and socioeconomic class. Employment type and hobbies are associated with eye trauma and burns. Regional, global socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions, include remoteness, geography, seasonality, availability of and access to services. Violence associated with war, acid attacks and domestic violence are associated with traumatic injuries. The impacts of conflict, pandemic and climate are exacerbated by decreased food security, access to health services and workers. Digital technology can impact diseases through physical and mental health effects and access to health information and services. The COVID-19 pandemic and related mitigating strategies are mostly associated with an increased risk of developing new or worsening existing ocular surface diseases. Societal factors impact the type and severity of ocular surface diseases, although there is considerable interdependence between factors. The overlay of the digital environment, natural disasters, conflict and the pandemic have modified access to services in some regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Stapleton
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Juan Carlos Abad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Antioquia Ophthalmology Clinic-Clofan, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Stefano Barabino
- ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Ospedale L. Sacco-University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anthea Burnett
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Geetha Iyer
- C. J. Shah Cornea Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kaevalin Lekhanont
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tianjing Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Ophthalmology Department, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Alejandro Navas
- Conde de Valenciana, National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Riaz Qureshi
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Danial Roshandel
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (incorporating Lions Eye Institute), The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Afsun Sahin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Koc University Medical School, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Kendrick Shih
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Anna Tichenor
- School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Lyndon Jones
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Watson J, Cumming O, Dreibelbis R. Nongovernmental Organization Practitioners' Perspectives on the Challenges and Solutions to Changing Handwashing Behavior in Older Children: A Qualitative Study. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023; 11:GHSP-D-22-00231. [PMID: 36853630 PMCID: PMC9972390 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing handwashing with soap (HWWS) among older children (aged 5-14 years) can achieve a substantial public health impact. However, HWWS interventions targeting older children have had mixed success. Recent research has attempted to quantitatively identify effective intervention techniques; however, success is likely also influenced by the wider context of implementation. We explore nongovernmental organization (NGO) practitioners' perspectives on the challenges and solutions to HWWS interventions targeting older children to enhance understanding of what is required, beyond intervention content, for them to be effective. METHODS We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews in April-November 2020 with 25 practitioners employed across 11 NGOs and involved in HWWS interventions targeting older children in development and humanitarian settings. We used purposive and snowball sampling to recruit participants in roles at the global, national/regional, and local levels. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed to identify challenges and solutions to HWWS interventions targeting older children. Results were organized according to program development cycle stages. RESULTS Twelve themes relating to perceived challenges emerged: (1) lack of prioritization, (2) funding inconsistency, (3) insufficient formative research, (4) demand on resources, (5) unengaging intervention content, (6) non-enabling physical environments, (7) availability of skilled implementers, (8) reaching out-of-school children, (9) community mistrust, (10) lack of coordination, (11) lack of evaluation rigor, and (12) failure to assign older children's HWWS as a primary outcome in evaluations of hygiene interventions. Recommended solutions were at the intervention, organization, and sector levels. CONCLUSION Intervention design and delivery are important for the success of HWWS interventions for older children, but contextual factors, such as the availability of human and material resources and the level of coordination within and beyond the NGO sector, should also be considered. NGOs need to prioritize HWWS promotion among older children and support programs accordingly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Watson
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Dreibelbis
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sullivan KM, Harding-Esch EM, Keil AP, Freeman MC, Batcho WE, Bio Issifou AA, Bucumi V, Bella AL, Epee E, Bobo Barkesa S, Seife Gebretsadik F, Sanha S, Kalua KM, Masika MP, Minnih AO, Abdala M, Massangaie ME, Amza A, Kadri B, Nassirou B, Mpyet CD, Olobio N, Badiane MD, Elshafie BE, Baayenda G, Kabona GE, Kaitaba O, Simon A, Al-Khateeb TQ, Mwale C, Bakhtiari A, Westreich D, Solomon AW, Gower EW. Exploring water, sanitation, and hygiene coverage targets for reaching and sustaining trachoma elimination: G-computation analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011103. [PMID: 36780437 PMCID: PMC9925017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. To reduce transmission, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) improvements are promoted through a comprehensive public health strategy. Evidence supporting the role of WaSH in trachoma elimination is mixed and it remains unknown what WaSH coverages are needed to effectively reduce transmission. METHODS/FINDINGS We used g-computation to estimate the impact on the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular among children aged 1-9 years (TF1-9) when hypothetical WaSH interventions raised the minimum coverages from 5% to 100% for "nearby" face-washing water (<30 minutes roundtrip collection time) and adult latrine use in an evaluation unit (EU). For each scenario, we estimated the generalized prevalence difference as the TF1-9 prevalence under the intervention scenarios minus the observed prevalence. Data from 574 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 16 African and Eastern Mediterranean countries were included. Surveys were conducted from 2015-2019 with support from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project and Tropical Data. When modeling interventions among EUs that had not yet met the TF1-9 elimination target, increasing nearby face-washing water and latrine use coverages above 30% was generally associated with consistent decreases in TF1-9. For nearby face-washing water, we estimated a ≥25% decrease in TF1-9 at 65% coverage, with a plateau upon reaching 85% coverage. For latrine use, the estimated decrease in TF1-9 accelerated from 80% coverage upward, with a ≥25% decrease in TF1-9 by 85% coverage. Among EUs that had previously met the elimination target, results were inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS Our results support Sustainable Development Goal 6 and provide insight into potential WaSH-related coverage targets for trachoma elimination. Targets can be tested in future trials to improve evidence-based WaSH guidance for trachoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M. Sullivan
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America,* E-mail:
| | - Emma M. Harding-Esch
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander P. Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Matthew C. Freeman
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wilfrid E. Batcho
- Programme National De Lutte Contre Les Maladies Transmissibles, Ministère De La Santé, Cotonou, Benin
| | | | - Victor Bucumi
- Département En Charge des Maladies Tropicales, Négligées Ministère De La Santé Publique Et De La Lutte Contre Le Sida, Bujumbura, Burundi
| | - Assumpta L. Bella
- Programme National De Lutte Contre La Cécité, Ministère De La Santé Publique, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Emilienne Epee
- Department Of Ophthalmology, University of Yaoundé 1 Yaounde Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Segni Bobo Barkesa
- Neglected Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fikre Seife Gebretsadik
- Neglected Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Salimato Sanha
- Programa Nacional De Saúde De Visão, Minsap, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | | | - Michael P. Masika
- Department of Clinical Services, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Abdallahi O. Minnih
- Département Des Maladies Transmissibles, Ministère De La Santé Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritania
| | - Mariamo Abdala
- Direcção Nacional De Saúde Pública Ministerio Da Saude, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Abdou Amza
- Programme National De Santé Oculaire Ministère De La Santé Publique, Niamey, Niger
| | - Boubacar Kadri
- Programme National De Santé Oculaire Ministère De La Santé Publique, Niamey, Niger
| | - Beido Nassirou
- Programme National De Santé Oculaire Ministère De La Santé Publique, Niamey, Niger
| | - Caleb D. Mpyet
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau, Nigeria
| | - Nicholas Olobio
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Mouctar D. Badiane
- Programme National de Promotion de La Santé Oculaire, Ministère de la Santé et de L’Action sociale, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Balgesa E. Elshafie
- National Program for Prevention of Blindness, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - George E. Kabona
- Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Oscar Kaitaba
- Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Alistidia Simon
- Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Consity Mwale
- Provincial Health Office, Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Ana Bakhtiari
- International Trachoma Initiative, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Daniel Westreich
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Anthony W. Solomon
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emily W. Gower
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Shobiso MG, Hussen MS, Munaw MB, Tilahun MM. Trachoma Prevention Practice and Associated Factors in Rural Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia, 2021. Ethiop J Health Sci 2023; 33:123-132. [PMID: 36890944 PMCID: PMC9987275 DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v33i1.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Trachoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness. It is more prevalent in areas where there is poor personal and environmental sanitation. Implementing a SAFE strategy will reduce the incidence of trachoma. The purpose of this study was to look into trachoma prevention practices and associated factors in rural Lemo, South Ethiopian communities. Methods We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in the rural Lemo district of south Ethiopia, covering 552 households, from July 1 - July 30, 2021. We used a multistage sampling technique. Seven Kebeles were selected using a simple random sampling method. Then, a systematic random sampling procedure with a five-interval size was applied to select the households.Our study assessed the association between the outcome variable and explanatory variables using binary and multivariate logistic regressions. The adjusted odds ratio was calculated, and variables with a p-value below 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered statistically significant. Results The study found that 59.6% (95% CI: 55.5%-63.7%) of participants had good trachoma prevention practices. Having a favorable attitude (odds ratio [AOR]: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.26-2.89), receiving health education (AOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.46-3.21), and obtaining water from a public pipe (AOR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.09-5.66) were significantly associated with good trachoma prevention practice. Conclusions Fifty-nine percent of the participants had good prevention practices for trachoma. Health education, a favorable attitude, and a water source from public pipes were variables associated with good trachoma prevention practice. Improving water sources and disseminating health information are vital to increasing trachoma prevention practices.
Collapse
|
22
|
Zhang J, Pitol AK, Braun L, Hazell L, Templeton MR. The efficacy of soap against schistosome cercariae: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010820. [PMID: 36191022 PMCID: PMC9560551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is endemic in 78 countries and affects almost 240 million people worldwide. It has been acknowledged that an integrated approach that goes beyond drug treatment is needed to achieve control and eventual elimination of the disease. Improving hygiene has been encouraged by World Health Organisation, and one aspect of good hygiene is using soap during water-contact activities, such as bathing and doing laundry. This hygiene practice might directly reduce the skin exposure to cercariae at transmission sites. A systematic review was carried out to investigate the efficacy of soap against schistosome cercariae and to identify the knowledge gaps surrounding this topic. METHODOLOGY Six online databases were searched between 5th and 8th July of 2021. Records returned from these databases were screened to remove duplicates, and the remaining records were classified by reading titles, abstracts, and full texts to identify the included studies. The results were categorised into two groups based on two different protective mechanisms of soap (namely, damage to cercariae and protection of skin). CONCLUSIONS Limited research has been conducted on the efficacy of soap against schistosome cercariae and only 11 studies met the criteria to be included in this review. The review demonstrates that soap has the potential of protecting people against schistosome cercariae and there are two protective aspects: (1) soap affects cercariae adversely; (2) soap on the skin prevents cercariae from penetrating the skin, developing into adult worms and producing eggs. Both aspects of protection were influenced by many factors, but the differences in the reported experimental conditions, such as the cercarial endpoint measurement used and the cercaria numbers used per water sample, lead to low comparability between the previous studies. This review indicates that more evidence is needed to inform hygiene advice for people living in schistosomiasis endemic areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaodi Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Ana K. Pitol
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Braun
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucinda Hazell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R. Templeton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Warusavithana S, Atta H, Osman M, Hutin Y. Review of the neglected tropical diseases programme implementation during 2012–2019 in the WHO-Eastern Mediterranean Region. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010665. [PMID: 36173943 PMCID: PMC9521802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The 2012–2020 WHO NTD roadmap set targets for control, elimination, and eradication of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It recommends 5 strategies, out of which preventive chemotherapy (PC) and intensified disease management were key to achieve targets. WHO estimated that globally, between 2012 and 2019, the number of persons affected by NTDs decreased from nearly 2.1 to 1.7 billion people. We analysed the situation of NTDs in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in 2020 to assess the progress with the 2012–2020 roadmap and to identify gaps. Methods We reviewed data repositories of national data sources for 2012 to 2019 including the Global Indicator Data Platform for Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Health Observatory data repository, the WHO PC databank, and the EMR data repository. We allocated countries a Red-Amber-Green (RAG) rating based on standardized criteria, on progress and current situation of each of 11 priority NTDs. Results All 22 countries in EMR were affected by 1 or more autochthonous or imported NTDs. In 2019, WHO estimated that in EMR, 78 million people required interventions for NTDs, a 38% decline compared with 2012. Twelve of 22 countries needed priority public health action (i.e., red) for 1 or more NTD. Of these, Sudan needed priority public health action for 6 NTDs and Yemen for 5. Eleven countries also needed priority public health action for cutaneous leishmaniasis, and 5 countries for rabies and trachoma. Visceral leishmaniasis is on the increase in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Yemen. Conclusion Since the first roadmap of NTDs in 2012, the EMR has made a substantial progress. Nevertheless, many challenges remain in the prevention and control of NTDs. EMR needs a regional approach to control NTDs in countries most affected and a coordinated strategy to stop the continuing increase of cutaneous leishmaniasis and a possible resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Warusavithana
- Department of Universal Health Coverage/Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, WHO EMRO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hoda Atta
- Department of Universal Health Coverage/Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, WHO EMRO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mona Osman
- Department of Universal Health Coverage/Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, WHO EMRO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Yvan Hutin
- Department of Universal Health Coverage/Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, WHO EMRO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Garn JV, Wilkers JL, Meehan AA, Pfadenhauer LM, Burns J, Imtiaz R, Freeman MC. Interventions to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for preventing soil-transmitted helminth infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 6:CD012199. [PMID: 35726112 PMCID: PMC9208960 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012199.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is estimated that 1.5 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) worldwide. Re-infection occurs rapidly following deworming, and interruption of transmission is unlikely without complementary control efforts such as improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access and behaviours. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of WASH interventions to prevent STH infection. SEARCH METHODS We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 19 October 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA We included interventions to improve WASH access or practices in communities where STHs are endemic. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), as well as trials with an external control group where participants (or clusters) were allocated to different interventions using a non-random method (non-RCTs). We did not include observational study designs. Our primary outcome was prevalence of any STH infection. Prevalence of individual worms was a secondary outcome, including for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus), or Strongyloides stercoralis. Intensity of infection, measured as a count of eggs per gram of faeces for each species, was another secondary outcome. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently reviewed titles and abstracts and full-text records for eligibility, performed data extraction, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool for RCTs and the EPOC tool for non-RCTs. We used a random-effects meta-analysis to pool study estimates. We used Moran's I² statistic to assess heterogeneity and conducted subgroup analyses to explore sources of heterogeneity. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included 32 studies (16 RCTs and 16 non-RCTs) involving a total of 52,944 participants in the review. Twenty-two studies (14 RCTs (16 estimates) and eight non-RCTs (11 estimates)) reported on our primary outcome, prevalence of infection with at least one STH species. Twenty-one studies reported on the prevalence of A lumbricoides (12 RCTs and 9 non-RCTs); 17 on the prevalence of T trichiura (9 RCTs and 8 non-RCTs); 18 on the prevalence of hookworm (10 RCTs and 8 non-RCTs); and one on the prevalence of S stercoralis (1 non-RCT). Sixteen studies measured the intensity of infection for an individual STH type. Ten RCTs and five non-RCTs reported on the intensity of infection of A lumbricoides; eight RCTs and five non-RCTs measured the intensity of infection of T trichiura; and eight RCTs and five non-RCTs measured the intensity of hookworm infection. No studies reported on the intensity of infection of S stercoralis. The overall pooled effect estimates showed that the WASH interventions under study may result in a slight reduction of any STH infection, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.86 amongst RCTs (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74 to 1.01; moderate-certainty evidence) and an OR of 0.71 amongst non-RCTs (95% CI 0.54 to 0.94; low-certainty evidence). All six of the meta-analyses assessing individual worm infection amongst both RCTs and non-RCTs had pooled estimates in the preventive direction, although all CIs encapsulated the null, leaving the possibility of the null or even harmful effects; the certainty of the evidence ranged from very low to moderate. Individual studies assessing intensity of infection showed mixed evidence supporting WASH. Subgroup analyses focusing on narrow specific subsets of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions did very little to elucidate which interventions might be better than others. Data on intensity of infection (e.g. faecal egg count) were reported in a variety of ways across studies, precluding the pooling of results for this outcome. We did not find any studies reporting adverse events resulting from the WASH interventions under study or from mass drug administration (MDA). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Whilst the available evidence suggests that the WASH interventions under study may slightly protect against STH infection, WASH also serves as a broad preventive measure for many other diseases that have a faecal oral transmission route of transmission. As many of the studies were done in addition to MDA/deworming (i.e. MDA was ongoing in both the intervention and control arm), our data support WHO recommendations for implementation of improvements to basic sanitation and adequate access to safe water alongside MDA. The biological plausibility for improved access to WASH to interrupt transmission of STHs is clear, but WASH interventions as currently delivered have shown impacts that were lower than expected. There is a need for more rigorous and targeted implementation research and process evaluations in order that future WASH interventions can better provide benefit to users. Inconsistent reporting of the intensity of infection underscores the need to define the minimal, standard data that should be collected globally on STHs to enable pooled analyses and comparisons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua V Garn
- Division of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Jennifer L Wilkers
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashley A Meehan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lisa M Pfadenhauer
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Jacob Burns
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Rubina Imtiaz
- Children without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Matthew C Freeman
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Shimelash A, Alemayehu M, Dagne H, Mihiretie G, Lamore Y, Tegegne E, Kumlachew L. Prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among school age children in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019: a community based cross-sectional study. Ital J Pediatr 2022; 48:61. [PMID: 35505439 PMCID: PMC9066785 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-022-01258-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydial trachomatis. It is a major health problem in poor nations, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the severity of the problem, there was a scarcity of data on trachoma prevalence and associated factors among school-aged children in Debre Tabor town following SAFE and MDA. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of active trachoma and its associated factors among school-aged children in Debre Tabor, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2019. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was used among school-aged children. Structured interview questionnaires, an observational checklist, and a physical examination were used to collect data from study participants who were chosen using a systematic random sampling procedure. IBM SPSS 20 was used to enter data, which was then transferred to IBM SPSS 20 for bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULT A total of 394 children aged 5-15 had been screened and took part in the study, with 9.9% (95% CI: 6.9, 12.7) testing positive for active trachoma. Having an unimproved larine type (AOR = 5.18; 95%CI: 1.96, 13.69), improper solid waste disposal (AOR = 3.026; 95%CI: 1.17, 7.8), family size greater than four (AOR = 3.4; 95%CI: 1.22, 9.49), not using soap for face washing (AOR = 4.48; 95%CI: 1.46, 13.72) and an unclean face of the child during examination (AOR = 23.93; 95%CI: 8.25, 69.38) were found to be significant predictors of active trachoma. CONCLUSION Active trachoma among school-age children was high compared to the WHO's definition of trachoma as a public health problem. A family size of four, poor solid waste management, an unimproved type of latrine, an unclean child's face, and not using soap when washing one's face were all significant predictors of active trachoma. Promotion of behavioral determinants through health education programs like keeping facial cleanliness by washing their child's face with soap, managing solid waste properly, and installing improved latrines to reduce active trachoma needs to be in place.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alebachew Shimelash
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Mekuriaw Alemayehu
- Institutes of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Henok Dagne
- Institutes of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Getenet Mihiretie
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Yonas Lamore
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Eniyew Tegegne
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Lake Kumlachew
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Aragie S, Lietman TM, Keenan JD. Trachoma control using water, sanitation, and hygiene – Authors' reply. THE LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2022; 10:e480. [DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(22)00067-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
27
|
Ciardi Sassone S, Silva S, Metzger J, Fisher N, Mohan A, Felsman I. Reusable sanitary napkins in rural India: a remote quality improvement project for adolescent girls promoting menstrual hygiene health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glob Health Promot 2022; 29:77-85. [PMID: 35361007 DOI: 10.1177/17579759221082065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Medical and public health research supports an ongoing need for health promotion in meeting menstrual hygiene needs, including menstrual hygiene management (MHM) education and the adoption of reusable sanitary napkins. This quality improvement project focuses on menstruation education for adolescent girls in rural Tamil Nadu, India and the promotion of reusable sanitary napkins. Results indicate a significant improvement in MHM knowledge, confidence in managing menstruation, adoption of reusable sanitary napkins, and a decrease in missed school days. These findings support global recommendations for health promotion in India.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ambily Mohan
- Visions Global Empowerment, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhang JH, Ramke J, Jan C, Bascaran C, Mwangi N, Furtado JM, Yasmin S, Ogundo C, Yoshizaki M, Marques AP, Buchan J, Holland P, Ah Tong BAM, Evans JR, Congdon N, Webson A, Burton MJ. Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through improving eye health: a scoping review. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e270-e280. [PMID: 35219448 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00351-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UN member states have committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This Review examines the published evidence on how improving eye health can contribute to advancing the SDGs (beyond SDG 3). We identified 29 studies that showed direct benefits from providing eye health services on SDGs related to one or more of poverty (SDGs 1, 2, and 8), education (SDG 4), equality (SDGs 5 and 10), and sustainable cities (SDG 11). The eye health services included cataract surgery, free cataract screening, provision of spectacles, trichiasis surgery, rehabilitation services, and rural community eye health volunteers. These findings provide a comprehensive perspective on the direct links between eye health services and advancing the SDGs. In addition, eye health services likely have indirect effects on multiple SDGs, mediated through one of the direct effects. Finally, there are additional plausible links to other SDGs, for which evidence has not yet been established.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justine H Zhang
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK.
| | - Jacqueline Ramke
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Covadonga Bascaran
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nyawira Mwangi
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Department of Clinical Medicine, Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - João M Furtado
- Division of Ophthalmology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Cynthia Ogundo
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Miho Yoshizaki
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ana Patricia Marques
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - John Buchan
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Peter Holland
- International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, London, UK
| | | | - Jennifer R Evans
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre for Public Health, Queen's University, Belfast, UK
| | - Nathan Congdon
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University, Belfast, UK; Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Aubrey Webson
- Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew J Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Freeman MC, Delea MG, Snyder JS, Garn JV, Belew M, Caruso BA, Clasen TF, Sclar GD, Tesfaye Y, Woreta M, Zewudie K, Gobezayehu AG. The impact of a demand-side sanitation and hygiene promotion intervention on sustained behavior change and health in Amhara, Ethiopia: A cluster-randomized trial. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000056. [PMID: 36962125 PMCID: PMC10021625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Behaviors related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are key drivers of infectious disease transmission, and experiences of WASH are potential influencers of mental well-being. Important knowledge gaps exist related to the content and delivery of effective WASH programs and their associated health impacts, particularly within the contexts of government programs implemented at scale. We developed and tested a demand-side intervention called Andilaye, which aimed to change behaviors related to sanitation, personal hygiene, and household environmental sanitation. This theory-informed intervention was delivered through the existing Ethiopian Health Extension Programme (HEP). It was a multilevel intervention with a catalyzing event at the community level and behavior change activities at group and household levels. We randomly selected and assigned 50 kebeles (sub-districts) from three woredas (districts), half to receive the Andilaye intervention, and half the standard of care sanitation and hygiene programming (i.e., community-led total sanitation and hygiene [CLTSH]). We collected data on WASH access, behavioral outcomes, and mental well-being. A total of 1,589 households were enrolled into the study at baseline; 1,472 households (94%) participated in an endline assessment two years after baseline, and approximately 14 months after the initiation of a multi-level intervention. The intervention did not improve construction of latrines (prevalence ratio [PR]: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.21) or handwashing stations with water (PR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.26), or the removal of animal feces from the compound (PR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.28). Nor did it impact anxiety (PR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.11), depression (PR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.07), emotional distress (PR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.67, 1.09) or well-being (PR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.10) scores. We report limited impact of the intervention, as delivered, on changes in behavior and mental well-being. The effectiveness of the intervention was limited by poor intervention fidelity. While sanitation and hygiene improvements have been documented in Ethiopia, behavioral slippage, or regression to unimproved practices, in communities previously declared open defecation free is widespread. Evidence from this trial may help address knowledge gaps related to challenges associated with scalable alternatives to CLTSH and inform sanitation and hygiene programming and policy in Ethiopia and beyond. Trial registration: This trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03075436) on March 9, 2017.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C. Freeman
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Maryann G. Delea
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jedidiah S. Snyder
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joshua V. Garn
- School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | | | - Bethany A. Caruso
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Thomas F. Clasen
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gloria D. Sclar
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yihenew Tesfaye
- Department of Social Anthropology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Mulat Woreta
- Emory Ethiopia, Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Abebe Gebremariam Gobezayehu
- Emory Ethiopia, Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Water, sanitation, and hygiene for control of trachoma in Ethiopia (WUHA): a two-arm, parallel-group, cluster-randomised trial. Lancet Glob Health 2022; 10:e87-e95. [PMID: 34919861 PMCID: PMC9360557 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background WHO promotes the SAFE strategy for the elimination of trachoma as a public health programme, which promotes surgery for trichiasis (ie, the S component), antibiotics to clear the ocular strains of chlamydia that cause trachoma (the A component), facial cleanliness to prevent transmission of secretions (the F component), and environmental improvements to provide water for washing and sanitation facilities (the E component). However, little evidence is available from randomised trials to support the efficacy of interventions targeting the F and E components of the strategy. We aimed to determine whether an integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) intervention prevents the transmission of trachoma. Methods The WASH Upgrades for Health in Amhara (WUHA) was a two-arm, parallel-group, cluster-randomised trial in 40 rural communities in Wag Hemra Zone (Amhara Region, Ethiopia) that had been treated with 7 years of annual mass azithromycin distributions. The randomisation unit was the school catchment area. All households within a 1·5 km radius of a potential water point within the catchment area (as determined by the investigators) were eligible for inclusion. Clusters were randomly assigned (at a 1:1 ratio) to receive a WASH intervention either immediately (intervention) or delayed until the conclusion of the trial (control), in the absence of concurrent antibiotic distributions. Given the nature of the intervention, participants and field workers could not be masked, but laboratory personnel were masked to treatment allocation. The WASH intervention consisted of both hygiene infrastructure improvements (namely, construction of a community water point) and hygiene promotion by government, school, and community leaders, which were implemented at the household, school, and community levels. Hygiene promotion focused on two simple messages: to use soap and water to wash your or your child’s face, and to always use a latrine for defecation. The primary outcome was the cluster-level prevalence of ocular chlamydia, measured annually using conjunctival swabs in a random sample of children aged 0–5 years from each cluster at 12, 24, and 36 month timepoints. Analyses were done in an intention-to-treat manner. This trial is ongoing and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02754583. Findings Between Nov 9, 2015, and March 5, 2019, 40 of 44 clusters assessed for eligibility were enrolled and randomly allocated to the trial groups (20 clusters each, with 7636 people from 1751 households in the intervention group and 9821 people from 2211 households in the control group at baseline). At baseline, ocular chlamydia prevalence among children aged 0–5 years was 11% (95% CI 6 to 16) in the WASH group and 11% (5 to 18) in the control group. At month 36, ocular chlamydia prevalence had increased in both groups, to 32% (24 to 41) in the WASH group and 31% (21 to 41) in the control group (risk difference across three annual monitoring visits, after adjustment for prevalence at baseline: 3·7 percentage points; 95% CI −4·9 to 12·4; p=0·40). No adverse events were reported in either group. Interpretation An integrated WASH intervention addressing the F and E components of the SAFE strategy did not prevent an increase in prevalence of ocular chlamydia following cessation of antibiotics in an area with hyperendemic trachoma. The impact of WASH in the presence of annual mass azithromycin distributions is currently being studied in a follow-up trial of the 40 study clusters. Continued antibiotic distributions will probably be important in areas with persistent trachoma. Funding National Institutes of Health—National Eye Institute.
Collapse
|
31
|
Ahmed J, Wong LP, Chua YP, Hydrie MZI, Channa N. Drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) situation in primary schools of Pakistan: the impact of WASH-related interventions and policy on children school performance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:1259-1277. [PMID: 34355319 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15681-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals include the target of ensuring access to water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for all; however, very few studies have assessed comprehensive school WASH service in Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to identify WASH services in primary schools of Pakistan, and to assess how recent WASH interventions and policies are associated with the school's academic performance. A representative cross-sectional study was conducted in primary schools in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Structured observations and interviews were done to ascertain the schools' WASH conditions. The primary exposures of interest were the implementation of previous WASH interventions and National WASH policy in the school and the WASH coverage. Outcomes of interest included WASH conditions and school performance. The structural equation modeling (SEM) using a bootstrap resampling procedure was employed to characterize how WASH exposures were associated with WASH conditions and school performance. Data were collected from 425 schools. The Basic WASH facilities coverage in the primary schools of Sindh remains overall low according to WHO WASH service ladder criteria. Also, inconsistency in all three inclusive domains of WASH (availability, accessibility, and functionality) facilities were found. The school performance was significantly associated (P<0.001) with the presence of WASH interventions and/or WASH policy, while WASH policy and/or recent WASH intervention at the school were not associated with overall water quality. Our assessment unveiled several WASH gaps that exist, including high heavy metal and fecal contamination. Adoption of national WASH policy and financing of evidence-based WASH interventions are recommended in primary schools to improve educational outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamil Ahmed
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Li Ping Wong
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Yan Piaw Chua
- Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education ,University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Hydrie
- School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences (Ojha Campus), University Road, Near SUPARCO Chowk, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Najeebullah Channa
- US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, 76062, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Chirgwin H, Cairncross S, Zehra D, Sharma Waddington H. Interventions promoting uptake of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) technologies in low- and middle-income countries: An evidence and gap map of effectiveness studies. CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2021; 17:e1194. [PMID: 36951806 PMCID: PMC8988822 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Background Lack of access to and use of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cause 1.6 million deaths every year, of which 1.2 million are due to gastrointestinal illnesses like diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections like pneumonia. Poor WASH access and use also diminish nutrition and educational attainment, and cause danger and stress for vulnerable populations, especially for women and girls. The hardest hit regions are sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 calls for the end of open defecation, and universal access to safely managed water and sanitation facilities, and basic hand hygiene, by 2030. WASH access and use also underpin progress in other areas such as SDG1 poverty targets, SDG3 health and SDG4 education targets. Meeting the SDG equity agenda to "leave none behind" will require WASH providers prioritise the hardest to reach including those living remotely and people who are disadvantaged. Objectives Decision makers need access to high-quality evidence on what works in WASH promotion in different contexts, and for different groups of people, to reach the most disadvantaged populations and thereby achieve universal targets. The WASH evidence map is envisioned as a tool for commissioners and researchers to identify existing studies to fill synthesis gaps, as well as helping to prioritise new studies where there are gaps in knowledge. It also supports policymakers and practitioners to navigate the evidence base, including presenting critically appraised findings from existing systematic reviews. Methods This evidence map presents impact evaluations and systematic reviews from the WASH sector, organised according to the types of intervention mechanisms, WASH technologies promoted, and outcomes measured. It is based on a framework of intervention mechanisms (e.g., behaviour change triggering or microloans) and outcomes along the causal pathway, specifically behavioural outcomes (e.g., handwashing and food hygiene practices), ill-health outcomes (e.g., diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality), nutrition and socioeconomic outcomes (e.g., school absenteeism and household income). The map also provides filters to examine the evidence for a particular WASH technology (e.g., latrines), place of use (e.g., home, school or health facility), location (e.g., global region, country, rural and urban) and group (e.g., people living with disability). Systematic searches for published and unpublished literature and trial registries were conducted of studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Searches were conducted in March 2018, and searches for completed trials were done in May 2020. Coding of information for the map was done by two authors working independently. Impact evaluations were critically appraised according to methods of conduct and reporting. Systematic reviews were critically appraised using a new approach to assess theory-based, mixed-methods evidence synthesis. Results There has been an enormous growth in impact evaluations and systematic reviews of WASH interventions since the International Year of Sanitation, 2008. There are now at least 367 completed or ongoing rigorous impact evaluations in LMICs, nearly three-quarters of which have been conducted since 2008, plus 43 systematic reviews. Studies have been done in 83 LMICs, with a high concentration in Bangladesh, India, and Kenya. WASH sector programming has increasingly shifted in focus from what technology to supply (e.g., a handwashing station or child's potty), to the best way in which to do so to promote demand. Research also covers a broader set of intervention mechanisms. For example, there has been increased interest in behaviour change communication using psychosocial "triggering", such as social marketing and community-led total sanitation. These studies report primarily on behavioural outcomes. With the advent of large-scale funding, in particular by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, there has been a substantial increase in the number of studies on sanitation technologies, particularly latrines. Sustaining behaviour is fundamental for sustaining health and other quality of life improvements. However, few studies have been done of intervention mechanisms for, or measuring outcomes on sustained adoption of latrines to stop open defaecation. There has also been some increase in the number of studies looking at outcomes and interventions that disproportionately affect women and girls, who quite literally carry most of the burden of poor water and sanitation access. However, most studies do not report sex disaggregated outcomes, let alone integrate gender analysis into their framework. Other vulnerable populations are even less addressed; no studies eligible for inclusion in the map were done of interventions targeting, or reporting on outcomes for, people living with disabilities. We were only able to find a single controlled evaluation of WASH interventions in a health care facility, in spite of the importance of WASH in health facilities in global policy debates. The quality of impact evaluations has improved, such as the use of controlled designs as standard, attention to addressing reporting biases, and adequate cluster sample size. However, there remain important concerns about quality of reporting. The quality and usefulness of systematic reviews for policy is also improving, which draw clearer distinctions between intervention mechanisms and synthesise the evidence on outcomes along the causal pathway. Adopting mixed-methods approaches also provides information for programmes on barriers and enablers affecting implementation. Conclusion Ensuring everyone has access to appropriate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities is one of the most fundamental of challenges for poverty elimination. Researchers and funders need to consider carefully where there is the need for new primary evidence, and new syntheses of that evidence. This study suggests the following priority areas:Impact evaluations incorporating understudied outcomes, such as sustainability and slippage, of WASH provision in understudied places of use, such as health care facilities, and of interventions targeting, or presenting disaggregated data for, vulnerable populations, particularly over the life-course and for people living with a disability;Improved reporting in impact evaluations, including presentation of participant flow diagrams; andSynthesis studies and updates in areas with sufficient existing and planned impact evaluations, such as for diarrhoea mortality, ARIs, WASH in schools and decentralisation. These studies will preferably be conducted as mixed-methods systematic reviews that are able to answer questions about programme targeting, implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and compare alternative intervention mechanisms to achieve and sustain outcomes in particular contexts, preferably using network meta-analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Chirgwin
- International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie)London International Development CentreLondonUK
| | | | | | - Hugh Sharma Waddington
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie)London International Development CentreLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Delelegn D, Tolcha A, Beyene H, Tsegaye B. Status of active trachoma infection among school children who live in villages of open field defecation: a comparative cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:2051. [PMID: 34753484 PMCID: PMC8579689 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although many efforts are made by different stakeholders, magnitude of active trachoma remains high among children in Ethiopia. Open field defecation was found to be the main source of active trachoma. However, comparative information on the effect of open field defecation and non-open field defecation on active trachoma is scarce in Ethiopia. METHODS Comparative community based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1-30, 2019 in Boricha and Dale districts to assess prevalence of active trachoma among primary school children. We have selected four primary schools purposively from two districts in Sidama. Study participants were selected by using simpe random sampling method. Data were collected through face to face interview, direct observation and ophthalmic examination. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess factors associated with active trachoma infection among primary school children. Adjusted Odds Ratios with 95% confidence interval and p-value less than 0.05 were computed to determine the level of significance. RESULT From the total of 746 study participants, only 701 study participants gave full response for interview questions making a response rate of 94%. The overall prevalence of active trachoma infection was 17.5% (95% CI, 14.1-20.8) among primary school students. Specifically, prevalence of active trachoma infection was 67.5% among children who lived in open field defecation villages, but it was 88.5% among school children who live in Non-ODF Kebeles. Factors like: Living in open field defecation Kebeles (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI, 1.5-4.1), having ocular discharge (AOR = 5.715, 95% CI, 3.4-9.4), having nasal discharge (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI, 1.06-3.39), and fly on the face (AOR = 6.47, 95% CI, 3.36-12.44) of children were positively associated with active trachoma infection. However, finger cleanness (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI, 0.21-0.9) was protective factor against active trachoma infection in this study. CONCLUSION Significant variation in prevalence of active trachoma infection among school children between open filed and non-open field defecation Kebeles was observed. Surprisingly, the prevalence in open field defecation was significantly lower than non-open field defecation. Hence, this indicates active trachoma infection highly depends on the hand hygiene than environmental sanitation. Educational campaign of hand hygiene should be enhanced in the community for school students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Demoze Delelegn
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Alemu Tolcha
- Department of Enviromental Health Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Hunachew Beyene
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Berhan Tsegaye
- Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Cha S, Jin Y, Elhag MS, Kim Y, Ismail HAHA. Unequal geographic distribution of water and sanitation at the household and school level in Sudan. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258418. [PMID: 34653204 PMCID: PMC8519438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sudanese Government launched the National SDG-6 Plan and commences its implementation to achieve and sustain universal and equitable access to basic WASH services by 2030. It is critical to understand the geographical heterogeneity of Sudan and patterns in the inequality of access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Through such research, the disease control strategy can be optimized, and resource allocation can be prioritized. We explored spatial heterogeneity and inequality in access to improved water and sanitation across Sudan by mapping the coverage at both the state and district levels. We decomposed the inequality across Sudan into within-state, between-state, within-district, and between-state inequalities using the Theil L and Theil T indices. We calculated the Gini coefficient to assess the inequality of access to improved water and sanitation, based on the deviation of the Lorenz curve from the line of perfect equality. The study population was 105,167 students aged 8–13 at 1,776 primary schools across the country. Geographical heterogeneity was prominent in the Central Darfur, South Darfur, East Darfur, Kassala, West Kordofan, and Blue Nile States, all of which showed severe inequality in access to an improved latrine at the household level in terms of the Theil T or Theil L index. The overall inequality in the coverage of improved sanitation went beyond the warning limit of 0.4 for the Gini coefficient. The inequality in terms of the Theil L and Theil T indices, as well as the Gini coefficient, was always higher for improved sanitation than for improved water at the household level. Within-state inequality accounted for 66% or more of national inequalities in the distribution of improved sanitation and drinking water for both the Theil L and Theil T indices. This is the first study to measure geographical heterogeneity and inequalities in improved water and sanitation coverage across Sudan. The study may help to prioritize resource allocation to areas with the greatest water and sanitation needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seungman Cha
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Global Development and Entrepreneurship, Graduate School of Global Development and Entrepreneurship, Handong Global University, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Microbiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea
| | - Mousab Siddig Elhag
- Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Control Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Youngjin Kim
- Department of Global Development and Entrepreneurship, Graduate School of Global Development and Entrepreneurship, Handong Global University, Pohang, South Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
The impact of access to water supply and sanitation on the prevalence of active trachoma in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009644. [PMID: 34499655 PMCID: PMC8428667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trachoma is a worldwide infectious disease causing blindness. Trachoma continued as a public health problem in Ethiopia due to a lack of sanitation and inadequate prevention strategies. This study aimed to identify the impact of water supply and sanitation intervention on preventing active trachoma among children. Methods Systematic literature searches were performed from 4 international databases. The search involved articles published from January 1995 up to March 2019. The Cochran Q and I2 statistical tests were used to check heterogeneity among the studies. A random-effect meta-analysis was employed to determine the pooled estimates with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Data analysis was performed using the CMA V.3 and RevMan 5 software program, and the result of the systematic review was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Findings Out of 211 studies screened for the analysis, only 29 studies were finally included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The result revealed factors that are significantly associated with increased odds of active trachoma. Accordingly, households with no access to toilet facilities (odds ratio [OR]: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.75–2.38), no access to improved water (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.27–1.96), and do not practice regular face washing for children (OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 3.02–5.81) have shown increased odds of active trachoma. Besides, the results show a higher prevalence of active trachoma among children who did not wash their faces with soap and frequently. Conclusions The study found strong evidence that lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) was associated with increased prevalence of active trachoma among children. Therefore, a comprehensive and partnership-oriented program is needed to tackle the problem, but further study will be required to strengthen its implementation.
Collapse
|
36
|
López YA, Talero SL, León Donado JP, Álvarez ÁM, Magris M, Hernández T, Bermúdez M, Villalobos N, Saboyá-Díaz MI. Trachoma Rapid Assessments in Venezuela, an Example of the Integration of Data Gathering with Service Delivery in Hard-to-reach Populations. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2021; 29:100-107. [PMID: 34379575 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2021.1904512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A) PURPOSE The objective of the study was to assess the presence of trachoma in high priority districts in the Amazon state of Venezuela (the Bolivarian Republic of), and use trachoma data gathering platform to offer integrated primary health care services to underserved hard-to-reach populations living in the border with Colombia. B) METHODS Trachoma Rapid Assessments (TRA) were conducted in indigenous communities of three municipalities of the Amazonas State of Venezuela from June 2018 to April 2019 using the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Integrated health services were delivered based on the identified needs of the population of the assessed communities. C) RESULTS 1,185 children aged 1-9 years were examined for trachoma in the three municipalities, of which 6.92% had active trachoma; 994 people 15 years and above were examined for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) finding two cases (0.2%). 1,635 people were examined for other health-related problems and the most common diagnoses were intestinal parasites (54.74%), eye diseases (16.81%), cavities (7.34%), scabies (5.56%), headache (4.40%), and malaria (2.81%); additionally, 2,233 vaccine doses were provided to children and adults to complete vaccination series. D) CONCLUSION The results of the TRA in the Amazon state of Venezuela suggest that trachoma could be a public health problem and standardized population-based surveys to establish the prevalence and determine the interventions to implement are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Andrea López
- Malaria Unit, Amazonas Centre for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases "Simón Bolivar" (CAICET) of Ministry of Popular Power for Health, Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas State, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Sandra Liliana Talero
- Innovation and Research Department, Escuela Superior de Oftalmología, Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan Pablo León Donado
- Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Militar Universitario "Dr. Carlos Arvelo", Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Ángel Manuel Álvarez
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Magda Magris
- Research Department, Amazonas Centre for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases "Simón Bolivar" (CAICET) of Ministry of Popular Power for Health, Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas State, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Tulia Hernández
- Surveillance and Health Situation Analysis, Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health Department, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO),Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Marisela Bermúdez
- Vice Minister of Collective Health Networks of the Ministry of Popular Power for Health, Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Neris Villalobos
- Immunizations Program, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO),Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Martha Idalí Saboyá-Díaz
- Neglected, Tropical, and Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Washington D.C., USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
PALO SUBRATAKUMAR, KANUNGO SRIKANTA, SAMAL MOUSUMI, PRIYADARSHINI SUBHADRA, SAHOO DEBADUTTA, PATI SANGHAMITRA. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) practices and morbidity status in a rural community: findings from a cross-sectional study in Odisha, India. JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND HYGIENE 2021; 62:E392-E398. [PMID: 34604579 PMCID: PMC8451357 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.2.1503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Global evidence indicates an association between poor WaSH practice and inferior health outcomes. In rural areas, this practice is predominantly compromised with limited access to safe drinking water, knowledge gaps, and unhealthy socio-behavioural practices. Suboptimal WaSH practice leads to increased vulnerability of various infections, thereby posing a challenge to the primary health care system. METHODS A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 879 participants of two villages in Tigiria block, Cuttack district, Odisha, India. Information pertaining to socio-demography, WaSH practices and self-reported morbidities were captured and analysed. Bi-variate analysis was done to assess the association between WaSH practices and any acute illnesses. Differences were considered statistically significant if p-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS Tube well was the main source of drinking water (49.3%) followed by dug well (46.6%). Only 7.1% of participants reported to purify drinking water and around 40% were still practicing open defecation. The prevalence of acute and chronic illnesses was 9.2% and 19.1% respectively. Major acute illnesses were respiratory diseases, diarrhoeal disorders, and musculoskeletal problems, while major chronic illnesses were gastrointestinal problems, musculoskeletal problems, and hypertension. After adjusting for age, gender, and education, a significant odds ratio of 3.79 [CI = (1.23-11.70)] was observed between drinking water source (surface water Vs tube well water) for acute illnesses. CONCLUSIONS Poor WaSH practices among rural people make them vulnerable to acute and chronic morbidities. Health awareness and socio behavioural changes pertaining to WaSH practices need utmost priority to ensure better health for rural people of Odisha.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- SUBRATA KUMAR PALO
- ICMR-RMRCBhubaneswar
- Correspondence: Subrata Kumar Palo, Scientist-D, ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar - E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Watson J, Cumming O, MacDougall A, Czerniewska A, Dreibelbis R. Effectiveness of behaviour change techniques used in hand hygiene interventions targeting older children - A systematic review. Soc Sci Med 2021; 281:114090. [PMID: 34118686 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promoting good hand hygiene in older children is an important measure to reduce the burden of common diseases such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections. The evidence around what works to change this behaviour, however, is unclear. OBJECTIVES To aid future intervention design and effective use of resources, this review aims to identify the individual components used in hand hygiene interventions and assesses their contribution to intended behavioural change. METHODS We systematically searched seven databases for experimental studies evaluating hand hygiene interventions targeting children (age 5-12) and quantitively reporting hand hygiene behaviour. Interventions in each study were categorised as 'promising', or 'non-promising' according to whether they led to a positive change in the targeted behaviour. Behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were identified across interventions using a standard taxonomy and a novel promise ratio calculated for each (the ratio of promising to non-promising interventions featuring the BCT). 'Promising' BCTs were those with a promise ratio of ≥2. BCTs were ranked from most to least promising. RESULTS Our final analysis included 19 studies reporting 22 interventions across which 32 unique BCTs were identified. The most frequently used were 'demonstration of the behaviour', 'instruction on how to perform the behaviour' and 'adding objects to the environment'. Eight BCTs had a promise ratio of ≥2 and the five most promising were 'demonstration of the behaviour', 'information about social and environmental consequences', 'salience of consequences', 'adding objects to the environment', and 'instruction on how to perform the behaviour'. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that hand hygiene interventions targeting older children should employ a combination of promising BCTs that ensure children understand the behaviour and the consequences of their hand hygiene habits, appropriate hardware is available, and social support is provided. Researchers are encouraged to consistently and transparently describe evaluated interventions to allow promising components to be identified and replicated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Watson
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Amy MacDougall
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Alexandra Czerniewska
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Robert Dreibelbis
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Nji TM, Piotrowski H, Dum-Buo N, Fung EG, Dean L, Theobald S, Thomson R, Wanji S, Ozano K. Eliminating onchocerciasis within the Meme River Basin of Cameroon: A social-ecological approach to understanding everyday realities and health systems. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009433. [PMID: 34077416 PMCID: PMC8202923 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Onchocerciasis affects some of the world's most marginalized people, perpetuating poverty and inequalities. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with Ivermectin has taken place within the Meme River basin region in Cameroon for over 15 years. Despite this, onchocerciasis is still prevalent in the region due to existing and emerging contextual challenges. Using a social-ecological approach we explore the everyday realities of communities, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions that could support Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) programmes when transitioning from control to elimination of onchocerciasis in this highly endemic area and other similar communities. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING In-depth interviews (71) with community members and Community Drug Distributors (CDDs) were conducted to understand current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours in relation to transmission, prevention and treatment of onchocerciasis. Through application of the social-ecological model, four key themes were identified: 1. Contextual factors on health promotion interventions (Onchocerciasis history and understanding of the disease, prevention and mitigation strategies and MDA experience); 2. Social determinants (poverty and livelihoods, economic and social impacts on CDD volunteers and stigma); 3. Environmental determinants (exposure, housing, occupation and poverty); and 4. health seeking pathways and decision making for treatment (access, cost and preferable treatment routes). We discuss these core and cross cutting themes (gender differences and community participation/ownership) in relation to intersectoral collaboration, gender equity and health systems support, making recommendations for NTD programmes within the context of integrated and interdisciplinary approaches. These include the need for; intersectional and gender analysis at the local level, addressing environmental dimensions of onchocerciasis through integrated and regular health promotion, vector control strategies and access to safe water sources; reflection and action that embeds responses to social and economic barriers to MDA; integrated case detection and management that is responsive to onchocerciasis symptoms and related stigma and a fair and just support network for CDDs. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE NTD programmes need to respond to diverse community circumstances and behaviours. Communities are not a homogeneous risk group and treating them in this way will delay elimination. A deeper understanding of individual needs and their capacity to seek prevention and treatment must be considered if onchocerciasis is to be eliminated and the remaining impacts managed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theobald Mue Nji
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Helen Piotrowski
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nnamdi Dum-Buo
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Ebua Gallus Fung
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sally Theobald
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Thomson
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Kim Ozano
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Toor J, Hamley JID, Fronterre C, Castaño MS, Chapman LAC, Coffeng LE, Giardina F, Lietman TM, Michael E, Pinsent A, Le Rutte EA, Hollingsworth TD. Strengthening data collection for neglected tropical diseases: What data are needed for models to better inform tailored intervention programmes? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009351. [PMID: 33983937 PMCID: PMC8118349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Locally tailored interventions for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are becoming increasingly important for ensuring that the World Health Organization (WHO) goals for control and elimination are reached. Mathematical models, such as those developed by the NTD Modelling Consortium, are able to offer recommendations on interventions but remain constrained by the data currently available. Data collection for NTDs needs to be strengthened as better data are required to indirectly inform transmission in an area. Addressing specific data needs will improve our modelling recommendations, enabling more accurate tailoring of interventions and assessment of their progress. In this collection, we discuss the data needs for several NTDs, specifically gambiense human African trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths (STH), trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis. Similarities in the data needs for these NTDs highlight the potential for integration across these diseases and where possible, a wider spectrum of diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet Toor
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Jonathan I. D. Hamley
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio Fronterre
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - María Soledad Castaño
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lloyd A. C. Chapman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Luc E. Coffeng
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Federica Giardina
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas M. Lietman
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Edwin Michael
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Amy Pinsent
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Epke A. Le Rutte
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - T. Déirdre Hollingsworth
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Mafuta W, Zuwarimwe J, Mwale M. Universal WASH coverage; what it takes for fragile states. Case of Jariban district in Somalia. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247417. [PMID: 33630884 PMCID: PMC7906306 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The paper assessed access to WASH service in the Jariban district of Somalia. One hundred and sixty-seven households were sampled to administer a questionnaire. Central tendency and logistical regression were used to analyse the data in SPSS 26. The findings show that access to safe drinking water sources is 57.5%. Of the 42.5% of respondents who did not access safe drinking water source, only 10.8% confirmed that they treat drinking water at the point of use. The main reason for household water treatment was the positive mindset (.272) of the household head towards water treatment. The majority (80.2%) of the respondents access approximately 13 litres per person per day. Woman-headed households were more likely to treat water before drinking than male-headed households. Only 26.9% of the respondents accessed basic sanitation. Of the respondents, 55.7% did not share latrines, while 44.3% share resulting in open defecation. WASH access in the study area remains low, resulting in health-related risks, including diarrhoeal disease. The limitation is that the paper only focused on access to WASH facilities in fragile contexts. A cross-sectional analysis of biological, physical and chemical properties of water at the source and point of use is recommended for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wonder Mafuta
- Institute of Rural Development, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Jethro Zuwarimwe
- Institute of Rural Development, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Marizvikuru Mwale
- Institute of Rural Development, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wittberg DM, Aragie S, Tadesse W, Melo JS, Aiemjoy K, Chanyalew M, Emerson PM, Freeman MC, Nash SD, Callahan EK, Tadesse Z, Zerihun M, Porco TC, Lietman TM, Keenan JD. WASH Upgrades for Health in Amhara (WUHA): study protocol for a cluster-randomised trial in Ethiopia. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e039529. [PMID: 33619183 PMCID: PMC7903120 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Facial hygiene promotion and environmental improvements are central components of the global trachoma elimination strategy despite a lack of experimental evidence supporting the effectiveness of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) measures for reducing trachoma transmission. The objective of the WUHA (WASH Upgrades for Health in Amhara) trial is to evaluate if a comprehensive water improvement and hygiene education programme reduces the prevalence of ocular chlamydia infection in rural Africa. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Forty study clusters, each of which had received at least annual mass azithromycin distributions for the 7 years prior to the start of the study, are randomised in a 1:1 ratio to the WASH intervention arm or a delayed WASH arm. The WASH package includes a community water point, community-based hygiene promotion workers, household wash stations, household WASH education books, household soap distribution and a primary school hygiene curriculum. Educational activities emphasise face-washing and latrine use. Mass antibiotic distributions are not provided during the first 3 years but are provided annually over the final 4 years of the trial. Annual monitoring visits are conducted in each community. The primary outcome is PCR evidence of ocular chlamydia infection among children aged 0-5 years, measured in a separate random sample of children annually over 7 years. A secondary outcome is improvement of the clinical signs of trachoma between the baseline and final study visits as assessed by conjunctival photography. Laboratory workers and photo-graders are masked to treatment allocation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Study protocols have been approved by human subjects review boards at the University of California, San Francisco, Emory University, the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, and the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology. A data safety and monitoring committee oversees the trial. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov): NCT02754583; Pre-results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dionna M Wittberg
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Jason S Melo
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kristen Aiemjoy
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Paul M Emerson
- International Trachoma Initiative, Decatur, Georgia, USA
- The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Travis C Porco
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Thomas M Lietman
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Institute for Global Health, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jeremy D Keenan
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Aragie S, Gebresillasie S, Chernet A, Shiferaw A, Tadesse Z, Zerihun M, Varnado NE, Cotter SY, Wittberg DM, Zhou Z, Callahan EK, Nash SD, Aiemjoy K, Keenan JD. Community Hand-Dug Wells for Trachoma: A Cluster-Randomized Trial. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104:1271-1277. [PMID: 33534742 PMCID: PMC8045603 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The WHO recommends improving access to water as part of a comprehensive strategy for elimination of trachoma as a public health problem; however, this recommendation is not based on evidence from randomized trials. In a region of Ethiopia with hyperendemic trachoma, seven communities were randomized to a hand-dug well (HDW) and seven communities to no intervention to determine the impact of HDWs on the community prevalence of ocular chlamydia infection (primary prespecified outcome). All communities continued to receive government hygiene and sanitation services and outreach. Participants were not masked, given the nature of the intervention, but laboratory personnel were masked to treatment allocation. Hand-dug wells were successfully built in six of the seven communities; five of these wells were still functional at the conclusion of the trial. At the end of the trial, an average of 74% of households reported traveling < 30 minutes to collect water in the HDW arm, compared with 45% in the control arm, and the daily volume of water used for hygiene was similar (e.g., mean of 0.7 L per person in each arm). The pseudo-median prevalence of ocular chlamydia among 0- to 5-year old children at the 24-month visit was 23% in the HDW group and 13% in the control group (P > 0.99). This small cluster-randomized trial provided no evidence to suggest that simply constructing HDWs, in the absence of other hygiene promotion activities, is effective for reducing transmission of ocular chlamydia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicole E. Varnado
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sun Y. Cotter
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Dionna M. Wittberg
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Zhaoxia Zhou
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Kristen Aiemjoy
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jeremy D. Keenan
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sena A, Ebi K. When Land Is Under Pressure Health Is Under Stress. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 18:E136. [PMID: 33375481 PMCID: PMC7796245 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The land provides vital resources to support life on Earth. Land ecosystems services have social, cultural, and spiritual benefits and promote human health and well-being. However, human activities, particularly ongoing unsustainable land practices, are negatively impacting ecosystems through desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD). This article highlights the pressures and impacts of DLDD on human health through exposure pathways, including water security and safety; sanitation and hygiene; food security and safety; air quality; and soil quality. We describe the impacts on 19 health outcomes in three groups: non-communicable diseases; injuries; and infections, parasitic and nutritional diseases. The magnitude of these health impacts is mediated by social, economic, and health system-related factors. We propose actions for the health sector to respond to the DLDD challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aderita Sena
- Centre of the Study and Research of Health Emergencies and Disasters, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
| | - Kristie Ebi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, WA 98195, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Bella AL, Einterz E, Huguet P, Bensaid P, Amza A, Renault D. Effectiveness and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops for mass treatment of active trachoma in a highly endemic district in Cameroon. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2020; 5:e000531. [PMID: 33195812 PMCID: PMC7607600 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops under field conditions to reduce active trachoma in a highly endemic district in Cameroon. This is a follow-up of an initial report published in 2010. Methods and analysis Three annual campaigns were performed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to treat the population (~1 20 000 individuals) of the Kolofata Health District with topical azithromycin 1.5% (one drop in each eye, morning and evening for three consecutive days). The effectiveness of this intervention against active trachoma was assessed in children aged 1–9 years in cross-sectional studies prior to each mass treatment using a systematic sampling procedure (in 2008, 2009 and 2010) and then 1 year (2011) and 3 years (2013) after the last intervention among the villages with previously high active trachoma prevalence or never tested. Results The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) dropped from 24.0% (95% CI 20.7 to 27.5) before treatment to 2.8% (95% CI 2.2 to 3.7) 1 year after completion of the 3 year campaign. Trachomatous inflammation—intense was present in only 4 (0.2%) children 1 year after the third round of treatment. Three years after the last campaign, the surveillance survey among the most prevalent villages and villages never tested before showed a prevalence of 5.2% (95% CI 3.6 to 7.2) of active trachoma. Tolerance was excellent, with no report of treatment interruption, serious ocular or systemic adverse events. Conclusion Annual mass treatment with azithromycin eye drops was shown to be effective in reducing TF to a level ≤5% one year after a 3-round annual mass treatment in an endemic region at the district level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ellen Einterz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kolofata District Hospital, Kolofata, Cameroon
| | - Pierre Huguet
- Organisation pour la Prévention de la Cécité, Paris, France
| | | | - Abdou Amza
- Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger
| | - Didier Renault
- Thea Open Innovation, Laboratoires Théa, Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.,Fondation Théa, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Silva EJD, Pereira DP, Ambrózio JOAM, Barboza LM, Fonseca VL, Caldeira AP. Prevalence of trachoma and associated factors in students from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2020; 53:e20200056. [PMID: 33111907 PMCID: PMC7580275 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0056-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Trachoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world, especially in undeveloped countries, due to its association with poor socioeconomic and sanitation conditions. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of trachoma among students from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, one of the poorest regions in Brazil, and to identify associated factors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that utilized clinical evaluation and a socioeconomic questionnaire applied to a random and representative sample of elementary school students from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants underwent conjunctival scraping and direct immunofluorescence was used to confirm the presence of the bacteria. Five or more elementary bodies in the conjunctival scrape was considered a positive result. In the study, 36.6% positive samples were detected. A culture of the conjunctival scrape, considered to be the "gold standard", was not performed due to cost and complexity. Bivariate analyses were performed, followed by binary logistic regression analysis to define the associated variables. RESULTS: In the present study, 478 students comprised the sample. The prevalence of trachoma was 6.3% and was higher among students who lived in unfinished houses (no plastering, painting, flooring, and unfinished bathrooms) (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.12-6.48) without sewage systems (OR = 9.49; 95% CI = 3.52-25.60) and studied in rural areas (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.53-7.35). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of trachoma among the students aged 7 to 16 years old, from public and private schools, is not negligible and is especially associated with inadequate living conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evanildo José da Silva
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Medicina, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Daniela Porto Pereira
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Medicina, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Laiara Morais Barboza
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Medicina, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Vivian Ladeira Fonseca
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Medicina, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Toor J, Adams ER, Aliee M, Amoah B, Anderson RM, Ayabina D, Bailey R, Basáñez MG, Blok DJ, Blumberg S, Borlase A, Rivera RC, Castaño MS, Chitnis N, Coffeng LE, Crump RE, Das A, Davis CN, Davis EL, Deiner MS, Diggle PJ, Fronterre C, Giardina F, Giorgi E, Graham M, Hamley JID, Huang CI, Kura K, Lietman TM, Lucas TCD, Malizia V, Medley GF, Meeyai A, Michael E, Porco TC, Prada JM, Rock KS, Le Rutte EA, Smith ME, Spencer SEF, Stolk WA, Touloupou P, Vasconcelos A, Vegvari C, de Vlas SJ, Walker M, Hollingsworth TD. Predicted Impact of COVID-19 on Neglected Tropical Disease Programs and the Opportunity for Innovation. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 72:1463-1466. [PMID: 32984870 PMCID: PMC7543306 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many key neglected tropical disease (NTD) activities have been postponed. This hindrance comes at a time when the NTDs are progressing towards their ambitious goals for 2030. Mathematical modelling on several NTDs, namely gambiense sleeping sickness, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH), trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis, shows that the impact of this disruption will vary across the diseases. Programs face a risk of resurgence, which will be fastest in high-transmission areas. Furthermore, of the mass drug administration diseases, schistosomiasis, STH, and trachoma are likely to encounter faster resurgence. The case-finding diseases (gambiense sleeping sickness and visceral leishmaniasis) are likely to have fewer cases being detected but may face an increasing underlying rate of new infections. However, once programs are able to resume, there are ways to mitigate the impact and accelerate progress towards the 2030 goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet Toor
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Emily R Adams
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Aliee
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Amoah
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Roy M Anderson
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,The DeWorm3 Project, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Diepreye Ayabina
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Bailey
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria-Gloria Basáñez
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David J Blok
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Seth Blumberg
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Anna Borlase
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rocio Caja Rivera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - María Soledad Castaño
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nakul Chitnis
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luc E Coffeng
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald E Crump
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,The School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Aatreyee Das
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christopher N Davis
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L Davis
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael S Deiner
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America,Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Peter J Diggle
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio Fronterre
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Giardina
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emanuele Giorgi
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Graham
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom,Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan I D Hamley
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ching-I Huang
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Klodeta Kura
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas M Lietman
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America,Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Tim C D Lucas
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica Malizia
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Graham F Medley
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aronrag Meeyai
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edwin Michael
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Travis C Porco
- Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America,Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Joaquin M Prada
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Kat S Rock
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Epke A Le Rutte
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands,Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Morgan E Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Simon E F Spencer
- Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Wilma A Stolk
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Andreia Vasconcelos
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carolin Vegvari
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sake J de Vlas
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Walker
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - T Déirdre Hollingsworth
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom,Correspondence: T. D. Hollingsworth, Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK ()
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Deshpande A, Miller-Petrie MK, Lindstedt PA, Baumann MM, Johnson KB, Blacker BF, Abbastabar H, Abd-Allah F, Abdelalim A, Abdollahpour I, Abegaz KH, Abejie AN, Abreu LG, Abrigo MR, Abualhasan A, Accrombessi MMK, Adamu AA, Adebayo OM, Adedeji IA, Adedoyin RA, Adekanmbi V, Adetokunboh OO, Adhikari TB, Afarideh M, Agudelo-Botero M, Ahmadi M, Ahmadi K, Ahmed MB, Ahmed AE, Akalu TY, Akanda AS, Alahdab F, Al-Aly Z, Alam S, Alam N, Alamene GM, Alanzi TM, Albright J, Albujeer A, Alcalde-Rabanal JE, Alebel A, Alemu ZA, Ali M, Alijanzadeh M, Alipour V, Aljunid SM, Almasi A, Almasi-Hashiani A, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Altirkawi KA, Alvis-Guzman N, Alvis-Zakzuk NJ, Amini S, Amit AML, Amul GGH, Andrei CL, Anjomshoa M, Ansariadi A, Antonio CAT, Antony B, Antriyandarti E, Arabloo J, Aref HMA, Aremu O, Armoon B, Arora A, Aryal KK, Arzani A, Asadi-Aliabadi M, Asmelash D, Atalay HT, Athari SM, Athari SS, Atre SR, Ausloos M, Awasthi S, Awoke N, Ayala Quintanilla BP, Ayano G, Ayanore MA, Aynalem YA, Azari S, Azman AS, Babaee E, Badawi A, Bagherzadeh M, Bakkannavar SM, Balakrishnan S, Banach M, Banoub JAM, Barac A, Barboza MA, Bärnighausen TW, Basu S, Bay VD, Bayati M, Bedi N, Beheshti M, Behzadifar M, Behzadifar M, Bejarano Ramirez DF, Bell ML, Bennett DA, Benzian H, Berbada DA, Bernstein RS, Bhat AG, Bhattacharyya K, Bhaumik S, Bhutta ZA, Bijani A, Bikbov B, Bin Sayeed MS, Biswas RK, Bohlouli S, Boufous S, Brady OJ, Briko AN, Briko NI, Britton GB, Brown A, Burugina Nagaraja S, Butt ZA, Cámera LA, Campos-Nonato IR, Campuzano Rincon JC, Cano J, Car J, Cárdenas R, Carvalho F, Castañeda-Orjuela CA, Castro F, Cerin E, Chalise B, Chattu VK, Chin KL, Christopher DJ, Chu DT, Cormier NM, Costa VM, Cromwell EA, Dadi AFF, Dahiru T, Dahlawi SMA, Dandona R, Dandona L, Dang AK, Daoud F, Darwesh AM, Darwish AH, Daryani A, Das JK, Das Gupta R, Dash AP, Dávila-Cervantes CA, Davis Weaver N, De la Hoz FP, De Neve JW, Demissie DB, Demoz GT, Denova-Gutiérrez E, Deribe K, Desalew A, Dharmaratne SD, Dhillon P, Dhimal M, Dhungana GP, Diaz D, Dipeolu IO, Do HT, Dolecek C, Doyle KE, Dubljanin E, Duraes AR, Edinur HA, Effiong A, Eftekhari A, El Nahas N, El Sayed Zaki M, El Tantawi M, Elhabashy HR, El-Jaafary SI, El-Khatib Z, Elkout H, Elsharkawy A, Enany S, Endalew DA, Eshrati B, Eskandarieh S, Etemadi A, Ezekannagha O, Faraon EJA, Fareed M, Faro A, Farzadfar F, Fasil AF, Fazlzadeh M, Feigin VL, Fekadu W, Fentahun N, Fereshtehnejad SM, Fernandes E, Filip I, Fischer F, Flohr C, Foigt NA, Folayan MO, Foroutan M, Franklin RC, Frostad JJ, Fukumoto T, Gad MM, Garcia GM, Gatotoh AM, Gayesa RT, Gebremedhin KB, Geramo YCD, Gesesew HA, Gezae KE, Ghashghaee A, Ghazi Sherbaf F, Gill TK, Gill PS, Ginindza TG, Girmay A, Gizaw Z, Goodridge A, Gopalani SV, Goulart BNG, Goulart AC, Grada A, Green MS, Gubari MIM, Gugnani HC, Guido D, Guimarães RA, Guo Y, Gupta R, Gupta R, Ha GH, Haagsma JA, Hafezi-Nejad N, Haile DH, Haile MT, Hall BJ, Hamidi S, Handiso DW, Haririan H, Hariyani N, Hasaballah AI, Hasan MM, Hasanzadeh A, Hassen HY, Hayelom DH, Hegazy MI, Heibati B, Heidari B, Hendrie D, Henok A, Herteliu C, Heydarpour F, Hidru HDD, Hird TR, Hoang CL, Hollerich GI, Hoogar P, Hossain N, Hosseinzadeh M, Househ M, Hu G, Humayun A, Hussain SA, Hussen MAA, Ibitoye SE, Ilesanmi OS, Ilic MD, Imani-Nasab MH, Iqbal U, Irvani SSN, Islam SMS, Ivers RQ, Iwu CJ, Jahanmehr N, Jakovljevic M, Jalali A, Jayatilleke AU, Jenabi E, Jha RP, Jha V, Ji JS, Jonas JB, Jozwiak JJ, Kabir A, Kabir Z, Kanchan T, Karch A, Karki S, Kasaeian A, Kasahun GG, Kasaye HK, Kassa GG, Kassa GM, Kayode GA, Kebede MM, Keiyoro PN, Ketema DB, Khader YS, Khafaie MA, Khalid N, Khalilov R, Khan EA, Khan J, Khan MN, Khatab K, Khater MM, Khater AM, Khayamzadeh M, Khazaei M, Khosravi MH, Khubchandani J, Kiadaliri A, Kim YJ, Kimokoti RW, Kisa S, Kisa A, Kochhar S, Kolola T, Komaki H, Kosen S, Koul PA, Koyanagi A, Krishan K, Kuate Defo B, Kugbey N, Kumar P, Kumar GA, Kumar M, Kusuma D, La Vecchia C, Lacey B, Lal A, Lal DK, Lam H, Lami FH, Lansingh VC, Lasrado S, Lebedev G, Lee PH, LeGrand KE, Leili M, Lenjebo TL, Leshargie CT, Levine AJ, Lewycka S, Li S, Linn S, Liu S, Lopez JCF, Lopukhov PD, Magdy Abd El Razek M, Mahadeshwara Prasad D, Mahasha PW, Mahotra NB, Majeed A, Malekzadeh R, Malta DC, Mamun AA, Manafi N, Mansournia MA, Mapoma CC, Martinez G, Martini S, Martins-Melo FR, Mathur MR, Mayala BK, Mazidi M, McAlinden C, Meharie BG, Mehndiratta MM, Mehrabi Nasab E, Mehta KM, Mekonnen T, Mekonnen TC, Meles GG, Meles HG, Memiah PTN, Memish ZA, Mendoza W, Menezes RG, Mereta ST, Meretoja TJ, Mestrovic T, Metekiya WM, Metekiya WM, Miazgowski B, Miller TR, Mini GK, Mirrakhimov EM, Moazen B, Mohajer B, Mohammad Y, Mohammad DK, Mohammad Gholi Mezerji N, Mohammadibakhsh R, Mohammed S, Mohammed JA, Mohammed H, Mohebi F, Mokdad AH, Moodley Y, Moradi M, Moradi G, Moradi-Joo M, Moraga P, Morales L, Mosapour A, Mosser JF, Mouodi S, Mousavi SM, Mozaffor M, Munro SB, Muriithi MK, Murray CJL, Musa KI, Mustafa G, Muthupandian S, Naderi M, Nagarajan AJ, Naghavi M, Naik G, Nangia V, Nascimento BR, Nazari J, Ndwandwe DE, Negoi I, Netsere HB, Ngunjiri JW, Nguyen CT, Nguyen HLT, Nguyen QP, Nigatu SG, Ningrum DNA, Nnaji CA, Nojomi M, Norheim OF, Noubiap JJ, Oancea B, Ogbo FA, Oh IH, Olagunju AT, Olusanya JO, Olusanya BO, Onwujekwe OE, Ortega-Altamirano DV, Osarenotor O, Osei FB, Owolabi MO, P A M, Padubidri JR, Pakhale S, Pana A, Park EK, Patel SK, Pathak A, Patle A, Paulos K, Pepito VCF, Perico N, Pervaiz A, Pescarini JM, Pesudovs K, Pham HQ, Pigott DM, Pilgrim T, Pirsaheb M, Poljak M, Pollock I, Postma MJ, Pourmalek F, Pourshams A, Prada SI, Preotescu L, Quintana H, Rabiee N, Rabiee M, Radfar A, Rafiei A, Rahim F, Rahimi S, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Rahman MA, Rahman MHU, Rajati F, Ranabhat CL, Rao PC, Rasella D, Rath GK, Rawaf S, Rawal L, Rawasia WF, Remuzzi G, Renjith V, Renzaho AM, Resnikoff S, Riahi SM, Ribeiro AI, Rickard J, Roever L, Ronfani L, Rubagotti E, Rubino S, Saad AM, Sabour S, Sadeghi E, Saeedi Moghaddam S, Safari Y, Sagar R, Sahraian MA, Sajadi SM, Salahshoor MR, Salam N, Saleem A, Salem H, Salem MR, Salimi Y, Salimzadeh H, Samy AM, Sanabria J, Santos IS, Santric-Milicevic MM, Sao Jose BP, Saraswathy SYI, Sarrafzadegan N, Sartorius B, Sathian B, Sathish T, Satpathy M, Sawhney M, Sayyah M, Sbarra AN, Schaeffer LE, Schwebel DC, Senbeta AM, Senthilkumaran S, Sepanlou SG, Serván-Mori E, Shafieesabet A, Shaheen AA, Shahid I, Shaikh MA, Shalash AS, Shams-Beyranvand M, Shamsi M, Shamsizadeh M, Shannawaz M, Sharafi K, Sharma R, Sheikh A, Shetty BSK, Shiferaw WS, Shigematsu M, Shin JI, Shiri R, Shirkoohi R, Shivakumar KM, Si S, Siabani S, Siddiqi TJ, Silva DAS, Singh V, Singh NP, Singh BBS, Singh JA, Singh A, Sinha DN, Sisay MM, Skiadaresi E, Smith DL, Soares Filho AM, Sobhiyeh MR, Sokhan A, Soriano JB, Sorrie MB, Soyiri IN, Spurlock EE, Sreeramareddy CT, Sudaryanto A, Sufiyan MB, Suleria HAR, Sykes BL, Tabarés-Seisdedos R, Tabuchi T, Tadesse DB, Tarigan IU, Taye B, Tefera YM, Tehrani-Banihashemi A, Tekelemedhin SW, Tekle MG, Temsah MH, Tesfay BE, Tesfay FH, Tessema ZT, Thankappan KR, ThekkePurakkal AS, Thomas N, Thompson RL, Thomson AJ, Topor-Madry R, Tovani-Palone MR, Traini E, Tran BX, Tran KB, Ullah I, Unnikrishnan B, Usman MS, Uthman OA, Uzochukwu BSC, Valdez PR, Varughese S, Veisani Y, Violante FS, Vollmer S, W/hawariat FG, Waheed Y, Wallin MT, Wang YP, Wang Y, Wangdi K, Weiss DJ, Weldesamuel GT, Werkneh AA, Westerman R, Wiangkham T, Wiens KE, Wijeratne T, Wiysonge CS, Wolde HF, Wondafrash DZ, Wonde TE, Worku GT, Yadollahpour A, Yahyazadeh Jabbari SH, Yamada T, Yaseri M, Yatsuya H, Yeshaneh A, Yilma MT, Yip P, Yisma E, Yonemoto N, Younis MZ, Yousof HASA, Yu C, Yusefzadeh H, Zadey S, Zahirian Moghadam T, Zaidi Z, Zaman SB, Zamani M, Zandian H, Zar HJ, Zerfu TA, Zhang Y, Ziapour A, Zodpey S, Zuniga YMH, Hay SI, Reiner RC. Mapping geographical inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation facilities in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-17. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 8:e1162-e1185. [PMID: 32827479 PMCID: PMC7443708 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30278-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is an essential human right, recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals as crucial for preventing disease and improving human wellbeing. Comprehensive, high-resolution estimates are important to inform progress towards achieving this goal. We aimed to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities. METHODS We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from 600 sources across more than 88 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to estimate access to drinking water and sanitation facilities on continuous continent-wide surfaces from 2000 to 2017, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. We estimated mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive subcategories of facilities for drinking water (piped water on or off premises, other improved facilities, unimproved, and surface water) and sanitation facilities (septic or sewer sanitation, other improved, unimproved, and open defecation) with use of ordinal regression. We also estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths in children younger than 5 years attributed to unsafe facilities and estimated deaths that were averted by increased access to safe facilities in 2017, and analysed geographical inequality in access within LMICs. FINDINGS Across LMICs, access to both piped water and improved water overall increased between 2000 and 2017, with progress varying spatially. For piped water, the safest water facility type, access increased from 40·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 39·4-40·7) to 50·3% (50·0-50·5), but was lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to piped water was mostly concentrated in urban centres. Access to both sewer or septic sanitation and improved sanitation overall also increased across all LMICs during the study period. For sewer or septic sanitation, access was 46·3% (95% UI 46·1-46·5) in 2017, compared with 28·7% (28·5-29·0) in 2000. Although some units improved access to the safest drinking water or sanitation facilities since 2000, a large absolute number of people continued to not have access in several units with high access to such facilities (>80%) in 2017. More than 253 000 people did not have access to sewer or septic sanitation facilities in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe, despite 88·6% (95% UI 87·2-89·7) access overall. Many units were able to transition from the least safe facilities in 2000 to safe facilities by 2017; for units in which populations primarily practised open defecation in 2000, 686 (95% UI 664-711) of the 1830 (1797-1863) units transitioned to the use of improved sanitation. Geographical disparities in access to improved water across units decreased in 76·1% (95% UI 71·6-80·7) of countries from 2000 to 2017, and in 53·9% (50·6-59·6) of countries for access to improved sanitation, but remained evident subnationally in most countries in 2017. INTERPRETATION Our estimates, combined with geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden, identify where efforts to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are most needed. By highlighting areas with successful approaches or in need of targeted interventions, our estimates can enable precision public health to effectively progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Collapse
|
49
|
Jeng BH, Ahmad S. In Pursuit of the Elimination of Corneal Blindness: Is Establishing Eye Banks and Training Surgeons Enough? Ophthalmology 2020; 128:813-815. [PMID: 32739177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
|
50
|
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about Trachoma in Rural Communities of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia: Implications for Prevention and Control. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 2020:3270530. [PMID: 32774392 PMCID: PMC7397421 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3270530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease which is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Trachoma is one of the major health problems in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. However, knowledge, attitudes, and practices about trachoma are not yet studied in depth. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices on trachoma and its associated factors among rural communities in two districts of Tigay Region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia, from May 7–24, 2017. Data were collected on paper based, were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.1, and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results In this study, a total of 194 respondents were included. The overall level of good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on trachoma was 51%, 49.5%, and 35.6%, respectively. Having ever received health education was significantly associated with good knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.91–8.79) and attitudes (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.02–4.25). Moreover, good knowledge was associated with good practices on trachoma prevention and control (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.46–5.62). Conclusion Our study implies that areas with high burden of trachoma need to improve communities' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards trachoma prevention and control in order to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Therefore, health education focused on SAFE strategy should be provided to increase knowledge and changing attitudes that contribute for good practices towards trachoma prevention and control among communities.
Collapse
|