An Assessment of Implementation of Mass Drug Administration for Prevention and Control of Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Selected Southern Malawi Districts

Abstract Background Mass drug administration (MDA) is one of the key interventions recommended by WHO for prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases. In Malawi, MDA is widely carried out annually since 2012 for prevention and control of schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH). No study has been carried out to assess effectiveness of the approach and to document perceptions of health providers and beneficiaries regarding use of MDA. This study aimed to examine perceived strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, as well as health providers’ and beneficiaries’ perspectives of implementing the strategy in Malawi. Methods As a cross-sectional implementation research, the study was carried out in three southern Malawi districts of Chiradzulu, Mangochi and Zomba. In each district, four health centres and 16 villages were randomly selected to participate. A mixed-methods approach to data collection focusing on quantitative data for coverage and knowledge, attitudes and practices assessments; and qualitative data for assessing perceptions of health providers and beneficiaries regarding MDA was used. Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using IBM SPSS software version 26 while qualitative data were analysed using NVivo 12 for Windows. Results Knowledge levels about schistosomiasis and STH in the districts varied according to disease aspects asked about. Majority are more knowledgeable about what schistosomiasis is (78%) and whether STH are treatable with drugs (97%); with least knowledgeable about the organism that transmits schistosomiasis (18%), types of schistosomiasis (11%) and what causes STH (20%). In 2018 and 2019 the districts registered high coverage rates for praziquantel and albendazole using community-based MDA (73%-100%) and using school-based MDA (75%-91%). Both the health authorities and community members perceived the MDA approach as good because it brings treatment closer to people. Conclusion With the high MDA coverage obtained in schools and communities, the implementation of MDA in the target districts is satisfactory. There are, however, several challenges including disproportionate knowledge levels, which are hampering progress towards attainment of the 2030 global NTD goals. There is a need for promotion of community participation and partnerships as well as implementation of other recommended interventions for sustainable prevention and control of schistosomiasis and STH.

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Practice of Malaria Prevention and Control Methods and Associated Factors Among Rural Households in West Belessa District 2019

10.21203/rs.3.rs-153846/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tsigie Baye Aragie ◽

Haileab Fekadu wolde

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Data ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Educational Status ◽

Control Methods ◽

Female Sex ◽

And Control ◽

Structured Questionnaire

Abstract Background: In Ethiopia, the burden of malaria continues to cause a substantial number of morbidity and mortality. Communities’ practices of malaria prevention and control methods contribute immensely to sustainable control of malaria. This evidence is quite limited in the study area. Hence, this study aimed to assess Practice of malaria prevention and control methods and associated factors among rural household in west belessa district, northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Method: Community-based cross-sectional mixed quantitative and qualitative study was conducted from April to June 2019, in West Belessa district, North West Ethiopia. Multistage sampling was used to select a 740 sample size. A structured questionnaire was used for the quantitative component and a semi-structured questionnaire for the qualitative component. Quantitative data collected by interviewing and qualitative data using focus group discussion. Quantitative data was coded and entered using Epi info software and analyzed using SPSS. The binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the associated factors. Odds Ratio with 95% Confidence Interval was used to assess the strength of association. The qualitative data was transcribed manually using the thematic approach.Result: A total 738 subjects included with 99.7% response rate. 50.9% of respondents had good practice of malaria prevention and control methods. LLINs and IRS were practiced by 21.1% and 80.5% respectively. Poorest wealth quintiles [AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.76], poor wealth quintiles [AOR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.88], medium wealth quintiles [AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.42] and wealthy wealth quintile [AOR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.36], living in Menti Kebele [AOR = 3.88, 95% CI: 2.43,6.20], female sex [AOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.90], illiterate educational status [AOR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.16, 0.72] knowledge level poor [AOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.75] were significantly associated with good malaria prevention practice. All of the FGD participants participated at least one malaria prevention method. Conclusion: There were good IRS and environmental management malaria prevention practices, however, LLINs and other malaria prevention methods were poorly practiced. Wealth index, respondents living kebele, female sex, educational status, and respondents’ malaria prevention knowledge are predictors for the practice of malaria prevention.

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Costing interventions in the field: preliminary cost estimates and lessons learned from an evaluation of community-wide mass drug administration for elimination of soil-transmitted helminths in the DeWorm3 trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049734 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e049734

Author(s):

Katya Galactionova ◽

Maitreyi Sahu ◽

Samuel Paul Gideon ◽

Saravanakumar Puthupalayam Kaliappan ◽

Chloe Morozoff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Drug Administration ◽

Financial Reporting ◽

Mass Drug Administration ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Data Quality Control ◽

Soil Transmitted Helminths ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Rich Data

ObjectiveTo present a costing study integrated within the DeWorm3 multi-country field trial of community-wide mass drug administration (cMDA) for elimination of soil-transmitted helminths.DesignTailored data collection instruments covering resource use, expenditure and operational details were developed for each site. These were populated alongside field activities by on-site staff. Data quality control and validation processes were established. Programmed routines were used to clean, standardise and analyse data to derive costs of cMDA and supportive activities.SettingField site and collaborating research institutions.Primary and secondary outcome measuresA strategy for costing interventions in parallel with field activities was discussed. Interim estimates of cMDA costs obtained with the strategy were presented for one of the trial sites.ResultsThe study demonstrated that it was both feasible and advantageous to collect data alongside field activities. Practical decisions on implementing the strategy and the trade-offs involved varied by site; trialists and local partners were key to tailoring data collection to the technical and operational realities in the field. The strategy capitalised on the established processes for routine financial reporting at sites, benefitted from high recall and gathered operational insight that facilitated interpretation of the estimates derived. The methodology produced granular costs that aligned with the literature and allowed exploration of relevant scenarios. In the first year of the trial, net of drugs, the incremental financial cost of extending deworming of school-aged children to the whole community in India site averaged US$1.14 (USD, 2018) per person per round. A hypothesised at-scale routine implementation scenario yielded a much lower estimate of US$0.11 per person treated per round.ConclusionsWe showed that costing interventions alongside field activities offers unique opportunities for collecting rich data to inform policy toward optimising health interventions and for facilitating transfer of economic evidence from the field to the programme.Trial registration numberNCT03014167; Pre-results.

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Understanding a Diverse Cancer Center Catchment Area: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Built on a Theoretical Framework

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/1073274820983026 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 107327482098302

Author(s):

Clara Reyes ◽

Beti Thompson ◽

Katherine J. Briant ◽

Jason Mendoza

Keyword(s):

Cancer Prevention ◽

Catchment Area ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Geographic Distance ◽

Geographic Region ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Cancer Prevention And Control ◽

Incidence And Mortality ◽

And Control

INTRODUCTION: Quantitative approaches to the cancer incidence and mortality of a geographic region may lack understanding of the human context in the region thereby affecting how relevant cancer prevention and control activities can best be targeted to a cancer center’s catchment area. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to obtain and analyze qualitative data that described the barriers and facilitators in a cancer center’s catchment area. A further objective was to use the assessment to plan a comprehensive approach to cancer prevention and control activities in the region. METHODS: Extensive qualitative data were gathered from 32 key informants in the 13 county catchment area. We used the Warnecke Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities to analyze the qualitative data. We coded factors affecting cancer prevention and control using a directed content analysis approach guided by the Warnecke Model. RESULTS: Four outcome types included fundamental barriers such as political environment and discrimination, gaps in resources, and lack of coordinated activities. Social and physical barriers included distrust, diverse language and cultures, and geographic distance. Individual barriers included lack of system negotiation, health literacy, and poverty. Biological barriers were disparate disease rates in specific groups. CONCLUSION: The analysis and assessment led to the creation of a catchment area wide coalition that used the results to formulate a comprehensive strategic plan to address the barriers in the region.

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Boards of Governors' Roles and Management of Government Aided Secondary Schools in Kyenjojo District, Uganda

INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF EDUCATION (IJE) ◽

10.53449/ije.v1i2.61 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 138-150

Author(s):

Hellen Kabasinguzi Wataba ◽

Nafiu Lukman Abiodun

Keyword(s):

Secondary Schools ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Head Teachers ◽

Correlational Research ◽

Interview Guide ◽

Major Predictor ◽

And Control ◽

The Relationship

This study sought to establish the relationship between boards of governors' (BOGs) roles and management of government aided secondary schools in Kyenjojo District. The objectives were to establish the relationship between BOGs' planning role and management of government aided secondary schools, to establish the relationship between BOGs' supervisory role and management of government aided secondary schools, to establish the relationship between BOGs' control role and management of government aided secondary schools; and to determine the major predictor of management of government aided secondary schools out of the three aspects of BOGs' roles. A correlational research design was used. A total of 90 respondents drawn from 108 BOGs and nine head teachers were selected as sample for the study using stratified random sampling and census inquiry respectively. The instruments used were questionnaire and interview guide. Quantitative data was analysed using Pearson product-moment correlation and regression, while thematic analysis was used on qualitative data. The study found a statistically moderate positive and significant relationship between BOGs' planning role and management of government aided secondary schools (r=.626, p=.000); a statistically moderate positive and significant relationship between BOGs' supervisory role and management of government aided secondary schools(r=.591, p=.000); and a statistically weak positive and significant relationship between BOGs' control role and management of government aided secondary schools(r=.280, p=.015). All the three aspects of BOGs roles account for 38.4% of the influence on management of government aided secondary schools in Kyenjojo district (adjusted r2=0.384, p=.000). The researchers recommend that BOGs should be well trained in management of schools in order to be effective in their work. Head teachers should not be dictators but create a conducive climate for planning, supervision and control by the BOGs.

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Schisto and Ladders version 2: a health educational board game to support compliance with school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel – a pilot study

International Health ◽

10.1093/inthealth/ihaa057 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cynthia Uchechukwu Ejike ◽

Akinola Stephen Oluwole ◽

Olaitan Olamide Omitola ◽

Adedotun Ayodeji Bayegun ◽

Islamiat Yetunde Shoneye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Administration ◽

Mass Drug Administration ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Board Game ◽

Control Groups ◽

Group Discussions ◽

School Based ◽

Praziquantel Treatment ◽

And Control

Abstract Background We redesigned the Schisto and Ladders health educational board game and evaluated its potential to encourage compliance to school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel. Methods Two hundred and seventy-five children from six schools who rejected praziquantel treatment were divided into intervention and control groups. Before the intervention, preassessment interviews were conducted on their knowledge about praziquantel treatment and schistosomiasis. The Schisto and Ladders version 2 game as an intervention, and the Snakes and Ladders game as a control, were played for 6 mo. Postassessment interviews, including focus group discussions, were conducted. Results At preassessment, 0/98 (0.0%) children in the intervention group had heard of praziquantel compared with 2/177 (1.1%) in the control group. Similarly, 0/98 (0.0%) children in the intervention group did not know that praziquantel does not kill compared with 4/177 (2.3%) in the control group. The postassessment showed that 53/78 (67.9%) in the intervention group were aware of praziquantel compared with 2/177 (1.1%) in the control group (p=0.000). Similarly, 53 (69.7%) in the intervention group knew about the safety of praziquantel compared with 0/177 (0.0%) in the control group (p=0.000). Sixty-four children (65.3%) from the intervention group sought praziquantel treatment after the trial. Conclusions Schisto and Ladders version 2 is a useful sensitisation tool with which to encourage compliance to praziquantel treatment in schools.

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Soil transmitted helminths and scabies in Zanzibar, Tanzania following mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis - a rapid assessment methodology to assess impact

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/1756-3305-5-299 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 299 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Khalfan A Mohammed ◽

Rinki M Deb ◽

Michelle C Stanton ◽

David H Molyneux

Keyword(s):

Lymphatic Filariasis ◽

Drug Administration ◽

Mass Drug Administration ◽

Rapid Assessment ◽

Assessment Methodology ◽

Soil Transmitted Helminths

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EFFECTIVENESS OF INDIAN FOLKLORE ANIMATION ON MOTIVATION AMONG YEAR FIVE PUPILS IN KULIM DISTRICT

International Journal of Modern Education ◽

10.35631/ijmoe.27001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (7) ◽

pp. 01-12

Author(s):

Chitra Suparmaniam ◽

Maizatul Hayati Mohamad Yatim

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Research Methodology ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Moral Values ◽

Control Group ◽

Arcs Model ◽

Post Test ◽

And Control

The article discusses a study to measure the effectiveness of Indian Folklore Animation among Year Five SJK(T) pupils in the Kulim district. The study uses qualitative data for exploring twelve principles of animation and quantitative data for the research methodology approach. For qualitative data, ten animators were selected to analyse the twelve principles of animation in three series of selected Indian Folklore Animation using an animation principles checklist. For quantitative data, a pre-test post-test experimental design was used to measure the effectiveness of Indian Folklore Animation using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of four scales of Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivation. A total of 108 pupils from three schools was selected as respondents and were assigned into two groups (treatment and control group) consisted of 54 pupils each. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inference statistics to answer the listed research objectives. Findings show that there are significant differences in mean scores for pre-test and post-test to show that the Indian Folklore gave motivational effects to the pupils. This implies that Indian Folklore Animation could be developed for Indian Folklore appreciations and for fostering good moral values through animation.

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Barriers to the Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in the Community of Southwestern China: A Qualitative Research

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16020231 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 231 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tingting Li ◽

Shu Su ◽

Yong Zhao ◽

Runze Deng ◽

Mingyue Fan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C ◽

Health Education ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Control Program ◽

Face To Face ◽

And Control ◽

Poor Cognition

Objective viral hepatitis is a big challenge in China. However, few studies have focused on mapping the difficulties from a broader view. This study aimed to identify the barriers to the prevention and control of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in communities from the perspectives of hepatitis patients, residents, and healthcare providers. A total of 26 participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected by in-depth face-to-face interviews from September 2015 to May 2016 in two communities from Chongqing and Chengdu, China. A thematic framework was applied to analyze the qualitative data from the interviews. The critical factors of barriers to hepatitis prevention and control in the districts included poor cognition of residents regarding hepatitis B and hepatitis C, severe stigma in society, inadequate health education, and the provision of unsatisfactory medical services. Strengthening health education and improving services for treating patients with hepatitis are suggested to make further progress. A substantial gap remains between the need and currently available services for hepatitis patients and residents. Delivering quality prevention and control health services, improving health education, and reducing stigma in society are recommended to improve the prevention and control program for hepatitis B and C in communities.

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