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Makaula P, Kayuni SA, Mamba KC, Bongololo G, Funsanani M, Juziwelo LT, Musaya J, Furu P. Mass drug administration campaigns: comparing two approaches for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths prevention and control in selected Southern Malawi districts. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:11. [PMID: 38172854 PMCID: PMC10765822 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10489-5] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mass drug administration is one of the key interventions recommended by WHO to control certain NTDs. With most support from donors, health workers distribute antihelminthic drugs annually in Malawi. Mean community coverage of MDA from 2018 to 2020 was high at 87% for praziquantel and 82% for albendazole. However, once donor support diminishes sustaining these levels will be challenging. This study intended to compare the use of the community-directed intervention approach with the standard practice of using health workers in delivery of MDA campaigns. METHODS This was a controlled implementation study carried out in three districts, where four health centres and 16 villages in each district were selected and randomly assigned to intervention and control arms which implemented MDA campaigns using the CDI approach and the standard practice, respectively. Cross-sectional and mixed methods approach to data collection was used focusing on quantitative data for coverage and knowledge levels and qualitative data to assess perceptions of health providers and beneficiaries at baseline and follow-up assessments. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software version 26 and NVivo 12 for Windows, respectively. RESULTS At follow-up, knowledge levels increased, majority of the respondents were more knowledgeable about what schistosomiasis was (41%-44%), its causes (41%-44%) and what STH were (48%-64%), while knowledge on intermediate host for schistosomiasis (19%-22%), its types (9%-13%) and what causes STH (15%-16%) were less known both in intervention and control arm communities. High coverage rates for praziquantel were registered in intervention (83%-89%) and control (86%-89%) communities, intervention (59%-79) and control (53%-86%) schools. Costs for implementation of the study indicated that the intervention arm used more resources than the control arm. Health workers and community members perceived the use of the CDI approach as a good initiative and more favorable over the standard practice. CONCLUSIONS The use of the CDI in delivery of MDA campaigns against schistosomiasis and STH appears feasible, retains high coverages and is acceptable in intervention communities. Despite the initial high costs incurred, embedding into community delivery platforms could be considered as a possible way forward addressing the sustainability concern when current donor support wanes. TRIAL REGISTRATION Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202102477794401, date: 25/02/2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Makaula
- Research for Health Environment and Development, P.O. Box 345, Mangochi, Malawi.
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Private Bag 30096, Blantyre 3, Malawi.
| | - Sekeleghe Amos Kayuni
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Private Bag 30096, Blantyre 3, Malawi
- Medical Aid Society of Malawi (MASM) Medi Clinics Limited, Area 12 Medi Clinic, P.O. Box 31659, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | | | - Grace Bongololo
- Research for Health Environment and Development, P.O. Box 345, Mangochi, Malawi
| | - Mathias Funsanani
- Research for Health Environment and Development, P.O. Box 345, Mangochi, Malawi
| | - Lazarus Tito Juziwelo
- Ministry of Health, Community Health Sciences Unit, National Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminths Control Programme, Private Bag 65, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Janelisa Musaya
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Private Bag 30096, Blantyre 3, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Private Bag 360, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Peter Furu
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, 5 Øster Farimagsgade, 1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
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Legge H, Pullan RL, Sartorius B. Improved household flooring is associated with lower odds of enteric and parasitic infections in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002631. [PMID: 38039279 PMCID: PMC10691699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Enteric and parasitic infections such as soil-transmitted helminths cause considerable mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income settings. Earthen household floors are common in many of these settings and could serve as a reservoir for enteric and parasitic pathogens, which can easily be transmitted to new hosts through direct or indirect contact. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to establish whether and to what extent improved household floors decrease the odds of enteric and parasitic infections among occupants compared with occupants living in households with unimproved floors. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we comprehensively searched four electronic databases for studies in low- and middle-income settings measuring household flooring as an exposure and self-reported diarrhoea or any type of enteric or intestinal-parasitic infection as an outcome. Metadata from eligible studies were extracted and transposed on to a study database before being imported into the R software platform for analysis. Study quality was assessed using an adapted version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. In total 110 studies were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review, of which 65 were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis after applying study quality cut-offs. Random-effects meta-analysis suggested that households with improved floors had 0.75 times (95CI: 0.67-0.83) the odds of infection with any type of enteric or parasitic infection compared with household with unimproved floors. Improved floors gave a pooled protective OR of 0.68 (95CI: 0.58-0.8) for helminthic infections and 0.82 OR (95CI: 0.75-0.9) for bacterial or protozoan infections. Overall study quality was poor and there is an urgent need for high-quality experimental studies investigating this relationship. Nevertheless, this study indicates that household flooring may meaningfully contribute towards a substantial portion of the burden of disease for enteric and parasitic infections in low- and middle-income settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Legge
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L. Pullan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benn Sartorius
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Health Metric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Dula D, Morton B, Chikaonda T, Chirwa AE, Nsomba E, Nkhoma V, Ngoliwa C, Sichone S, Galafa B, Tembo G, Chaponda M, Toto N, Kamng'ona R, Makhaza L, Muyaya A, Thole F, Kudowa E, Howard A, Kenny-Nyazika T, Ndaferankhande J, Mkandawire C, Chiwala G, Chimgoneko L, Banda NPK, Rylance J, Ferreira D, Jambo K, Henrion MYR, Gordon SB. Effect of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on experimental carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B in Blantyre, Malawi: a randomised controlled trial and controlled human infection study. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e683-e691. [PMID: 37659418 PMCID: PMC10469263 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00178-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation in Malawi is threatened by absence of herd effect. There is persistent vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage in both vaccinated children and the wider community. We aimed to use a human infection study to measure 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) efficacy against pneumococcal carriage. METHODS We did a double-blind, parallel-arm, randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of PCV13 or placebo against experimental pneumococcal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B (strain BHN418) among healthy adults (aged 18-40 years) from Blantyre, Malawi. We randomly assigned participants (1:1) to receive PCV13 or placebo. PCV13 and placebo doses were prepared by an unmasked pharmacist to maintain research team and participant masking with identification only by a randomisation identification number and barcode. 4 weeks after receiving either PCV13 or placebo, participants were challenged with 20 000 colony forming units (CFUs) per naris, 80 000 CFUs per naris, or 160 000 CFUs per naris by intranasal inoculation. The primary endpoint was experimental pneumococcal carriage, established by culture of nasal wash at 2, 7, and 14 days. Vaccine efficacy was estimated per protocol by means of a log-binomial model adjusting for inoculation dose. The trial is registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, PACTR202008503507113, and is now closed. FINDINGS Recruitment commenced on April 27, 2021 and the final visit was completed on Sept 12, 2022. 204 participants completed the study protocol (98 PCV13, 106 placebo). There were lower carriage rates in the vaccine group at all three inoculation doses (0 of 21 vs two [11%] of 19 at 20 000 CFUs per naris; six [18%] of 33 vs 12 [29%] of 41 at 80 000 CFUs per naris, and four [9%] of 44 vs 16 [35%] of 46 at 160 000 CFUs per naris). The overall carriage rate was lower in the vaccine group compared with the placebo group (ten [10%] of 98 vs 30 [28%] of 106; Fisher's p value=0·0013) and the vaccine efficacy against carriage was estimated at 62·4% (95% CI 27·7-80·4). There were no severe adverse events related to vaccination or inoculation of pneumococci. INTERPRETATION This is, to our knowledge, the first human challenge study to test the efficacy of a pneumococcal vaccine against pneumococcal carriage in Africa, which can now be used to establish vaccine-induced correlates of protection and compare alternative strategies to prevent pneumococcal carriage. This powerful tool could lead to new means to enhance reduction in pneumococcal carriage after vaccination. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingase Dula
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Ben Morton
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Critical Care Department, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
| | | | | | - Edna Nsomba
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Clara Ngoliwa
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Simon Sichone
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Godwin Tembo
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Neema Toto
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Lumbani Makhaza
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alfred Muyaya
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Faith Thole
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Ashleigh Howard
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tinashe Kenny-Nyazika
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | - Gift Chiwala
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Ndaziona P K Banda
- Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi; School of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jamie Rylance
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Daniela Ferreira
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kondwani Jambo
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Marc Y R Henrion
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen B Gordon
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Curico G, García-Bardales P, Pinedo T, Shapiama W, Moncada-Yaicate M, Romaina L, Yori PP, Paredes-Olortegui M, Meza-Sánchez G, Lescano AG, Paz-Soldan VA, Schiaffino F, Oberhelman RA, Kosek MN. Resistance to single dose albendazole and reinfection with intestinal helminths among children ages 2 to 11 years from the Peruvian Amazon region: a study protocol. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:528. [PMID: 35672751 PMCID: PMC9171935 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07494-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deworming programs aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from geohelminth infections are common in many countries where these infections are endemic, but data demonstrating increasing levels of resistance to albendazole and mebendazole are causes for concern. Studies to evaluate the clinical efficacy of deworming programs are critical to maintain high infection control goals. METHODS We propose to assess the clinical efficacy of Peruvian national guidelines for deworming programs in a prospective observational study conducted in the Amazon River basin area near Iquitos, Peru. Major outcomes to be evaluated include (1) albendazole resistance of intestinal helminths (trichuriasis, ascariasis, hookworm), and (2) frequency of reinfection with intestinal helminths 4 months after treatment with albendazole. Children ages 2-11 years from the Belén District of Iquitos will be identified based on a community census. Following parental informed consent, demographic data, weight, and height will be recorded and a stool specimen for parasitological exam by direct observation and Kato-Katz concentration method, and helminthic egg counts will be collected prior to administration of albendazole, following Peruvian national guidelines. Follow-up stool specimens examined in the same manner will be collected at 20 days, 90 days, and 100 days following initial administration of albendazole, and based on parasites found repeat treatment will be administered in accordance with national guidelines. Real-time multiplex qPCR will be performed on helminth positive samples collected prior to initial deworming and on helminth-positive specimens detected on day 15-20. A total sample size of 380 participants was calculated based on total population in the target group and prevalence estimates of helminth infections and clinical resistance based on recent data. DISCUSSION Data from observational clinical efficacy studies are important to guide geohelminth infection control programs. Trial registration https://www.researchregistry.com/ . Identification number: researchregistry7736; Registered retrospectively March 13, 2022; https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry#home/registrationdetails/622e024cf06132001e3327bf/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greisi Curico
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Paul García-Bardales
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Tackeshy Pinedo
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Wagner Shapiama
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Miguel Moncada-Yaicate
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Lucero Romaina
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Pablo P. Yori
- grid.27755.320000 0000 9136 933XDivision of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, MR-6 Rm 2207, 345 Crispell Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Maribel Paredes-Olortegui
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Graciela Meza-Sánchez
- grid.440594.80000 0000 8866 0281Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, Jirón Nauta, 16002 Iquitos, Peru
| | - Andrés G. Lescano
- grid.11100.310000 0001 0673 9488Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado, 430. San Martin de Porres, Lima, Peru
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- grid.265219.b0000 0001 2217 8588Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2310, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Francesca Schiaffino
- Laboratorio Satelite Iquitos, Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Calle Ramirez Hurtado Nº 622, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Richard A. Oberhelman
- grid.265219.b0000 0001 2217 8588Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2310, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Margaret N. Kosek
- grid.27755.320000 0000 9136 933XDivision of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, MR-6 Rm 2207, 345 Crispell Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
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Conserve DF, Kayuni S, Kumwenda MK, Dovel KL, Choko AT. Assessing the efficacy of an integrated intervention to create demand for fishermen’s schistosomiasis and HIV services (FISH) in Mangochi, Malawi: Study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262237. [PMID: 34995323 PMCID: PMC8741025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Both HIV and schistosomiasis are major public health problems worldwide with 1.8 million new HIV infections, and up to 110 million untreated schistosomiasis cases globally. Although a causal link has not been established, there are strong suggestions that having schistosomiasis increases onward transmission of HIV from co-infected men to women. With both HIV and schistosomiasis treatment readily available in Malawi, there is a need to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and health impacts of joint management of these two hazards, with special focus on health education and demand-creation for fishermen. The aim of this project is to identify optimal models of delivering integrated HIV and schistosomiasis services for fishermen, particularly investigating the effect of using social networks, HIV self-test kits and beach clinic services in Mangochi, Malawi. Methods We have mapped 45 boat teams or landing sites for a 3-arm cluster randomized trial using “boat team” as the unit of randomization. The three arms are: 1) Standard of care (SOC) with leaflets explaining the importance of receiving presumptive treatment for schistosomiasis (praziquantel) and HIV services for fishermen, and two intervention arms of 2) SOC + a peer explaining the leaflet to his fellow fishermen in a boat team; and 3) arm 2 with HIV self-test kits delivered to the boat team fishermen by the peer. The primary outcomes measured at 9 months of trial delivery will compare differences between arms in the proportions of boat-team fishermen: 1) who self-report starting antiretroviral therapy or undergoing voluntary medical male circumcision; and 2) who have ≥1 S. haematobium egg seen on light microscopy of the filtrate from 10mls urine (“egg-positive”). Discussion This is the first evaluation of an integrated HIV and schistosomiasis services intervention for fishermen, particularly investigating the effect of using social networks, HIVST kits and beach clinic services. The findings will support future efforts to integrate HIVST with other health services for fishermen in similar settings if found to be efficacious. Trial registration This trial is registered in the ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN14354324; date of registration: 05 October 2020. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14354324?q=ISRCTN14354324&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10&searchType=basic-search. Linked to protocol version number 1.4 of 11 January 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donaldson F. Conserve
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | | | - Moses K. Kumwenda
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kathryn L. Dovel
- David Geffen School of Medicine, The University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Augustine Talumba Choko
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW), Blantyre, Malawi
- * E-mail:
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