African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease with a complex transmission mechanism, requiring a snail intermediate host, is influenced by biology, the environment, human behavior and the prevailing socioeconomic situation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the importance and feasibility of indi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hong-Mei Li, Nicholas Midzi, Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza, Zhi-Qiang Qin, Shan Lv, Shang Xia, Ying-Jun Qian, Robert Berquist, Xiao-Nong Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/11/275
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846152354533998592
author Hong-Mei Li
Nicholas Midzi
Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza
Zhi-Qiang Qin
Shan Lv
Shang Xia
Ying-Jun Qian
Robert Berquist
Xiao-Nong Zhou
author_facet Hong-Mei Li
Nicholas Midzi
Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza
Zhi-Qiang Qin
Shan Lv
Shang Xia
Ying-Jun Qian
Robert Berquist
Xiao-Nong Zhou
author_sort Hong-Mei Li
collection DOAJ
description Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease with a complex transmission mechanism, requiring a snail intermediate host, is influenced by biology, the environment, human behavior and the prevailing socioeconomic situation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the importance and feasibility of indicators related to the factors influencing transmission and intervention measures for <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> and <i>S. haematobium</i>. Based on a literature review and group discussions according to the Delphi method, a framework questionnaire was designed. A total of 33 experts on schistosomiasis were invited, and 27 were accepted, to rate the importance and feasibility of indicators for transmission with and the control of schistosomiasis, with a focus on intervention measures for <i>S. mansoni</i> and <i>S. haematobium</i> infections in Zimbabwe. After two rounds of Delphi consultations with these experts, calculated to have a high average authority coefficient (0.88), a consensus was reached on a framework that included 2 primary, 6 secondary and 39 tertiary indicators. The Delphi–entropy method was applied to assess the weight of each indicator. The key influencing factors included hazardous water exposure, accessibility to safe drinking water, sanitary facilities and the contamination of water bodies by outdoor defecation/urinary habits. The intervention measures involved improved diagnostics, health education, preventive chemotherapy, the presence of national control plans and the implementation of the strategy on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). While these factors are already well known, their detailed order of importance could help to improve the allocation of specific control efforts.
format Article
id doaj-art-85df6eb2f00545fb83f1dee6f330116c
institution Kabale University
issn 2414-6366
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
spelling doaj-art-85df6eb2f00545fb83f1dee6f330116c2024-11-26T18:24:16ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662024-11-0191127510.3390/tropicalmed9110275African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention EffectivenessHong-Mei Li0Nicholas Midzi1Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza2Zhi-Qiang Qin3Shan Lv4Shang Xia5Ying-Jun Qian6Robert Berquist7Xiao-Nong Zhou8National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai 200025, ChinaNational Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare P.O. Box CY 573, ZimbabweNational Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare P.O. Box CY 573, ZimbabweNational Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai 200025, ChinaNational Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai 200025, ChinaNational Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai 200025, ChinaNational Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai 200025, ChinaGeospatial Health, Ingerod 407, SE-454 94 Brastad, SwedenNational Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai 200025, ChinaSchistosomiasis, a parasitic disease with a complex transmission mechanism, requiring a snail intermediate host, is influenced by biology, the environment, human behavior and the prevailing socioeconomic situation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the importance and feasibility of indicators related to the factors influencing transmission and intervention measures for <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> and <i>S. haematobium</i>. Based on a literature review and group discussions according to the Delphi method, a framework questionnaire was designed. A total of 33 experts on schistosomiasis were invited, and 27 were accepted, to rate the importance and feasibility of indicators for transmission with and the control of schistosomiasis, with a focus on intervention measures for <i>S. mansoni</i> and <i>S. haematobium</i> infections in Zimbabwe. After two rounds of Delphi consultations with these experts, calculated to have a high average authority coefficient (0.88), a consensus was reached on a framework that included 2 primary, 6 secondary and 39 tertiary indicators. The Delphi–entropy method was applied to assess the weight of each indicator. The key influencing factors included hazardous water exposure, accessibility to safe drinking water, sanitary facilities and the contamination of water bodies by outdoor defecation/urinary habits. The intervention measures involved improved diagnostics, health education, preventive chemotherapy, the presence of national control plans and the implementation of the strategy on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). While these factors are already well known, their detailed order of importance could help to improve the allocation of specific control efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/11/275schistosomiasisinfluencing factorsintervention measuresindicatorDelphi methodentropy method
spellingShingle Hong-Mei Li
Nicholas Midzi
Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza
Zhi-Qiang Qin
Shan Lv
Shang Xia
Ying-Jun Qian
Robert Berquist
Xiao-Nong Zhou
African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
schistosomiasis
influencing factors
intervention measures
indicator
Delphi method
entropy method
title African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness
title_full African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness
title_fullStr African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness
title_full_unstemmed African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness
title_short African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness
title_sort african schistosomiasis a framework of indicators assessing the transmission risk and intervention effectiveness
topic schistosomiasis
influencing factors
intervention measures
indicator
Delphi method
entropy method
url https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/11/275
work_keys_str_mv AT hongmeili africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT nicholasmidzi africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT mascelinejeniphermutsakamakuvaza africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT zhiqiangqin africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT shanlv africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT shangxia africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT yingjunqian africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT robertberquist africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness
AT xiaonongzhou africanschistosomiasisaframeworkofindicatorsassessingthetransmissionriskandinterventioneffectiveness