Korean J Parasitol.  2015 Oct;53(5):535-543. 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.535.

Integrated Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Control over Five Years on Kome Island, Tanzania

• Kaatano GM
• Siza JE
• Mwanga JR
• Min DY
• Yong TS
• Chai JY
• Ko Y
• Chang SY
• Kullaya CM
• Rim HJ
• Changalucha JM
• Eom KS

• KMID: 2381775
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.535

Abstract

Integrated control strategies are important for sustainable control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, despite their challenges for their effective implementation. With the support of Good Neighbors International in collaboration with National Institute of Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, integrated control applying mass drug administration (MDA), health education using PHAST, and improved safe water supply has been implemented on Kome Island over 5 years for controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Baseline surveys for schistosomiasis and STHs was conducted before implementation of any integrated control strategies, followed by 4 cross-sectional follow-up surveys on randomly selected samples of schoolchildren and adults in 10 primary schools and 8 villages, respectively, on Kome islands. Those follow-up surveys were conducted for impact evaluation after introduction of control strategies interventions in the study area. Five rounds of MDA have been implemented from 2009 along with PHAST and improved water supply with pumped wells as other control strategies for complementing MDA. A remarkable steady decline of schistosomiasis and STHs was observed from 2009 to 2012 with significant trends in their prevalence decline, and thereafter infection rate has remained at a low sustainable control. By the third follow-up survey in 2012, Schistosoma mansoni infection prevalence was reduced by 90.5% and hookworm by 93.3% among schoolchildren while in adults the corresponding reduction was 83.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Integrated control strategies have successfully reduced S. mansoni and STH infection status to a lower level. This study further suggests that monitoring and evaluation is a crucial component of any large-scale STH and schistosomiasis intervention.

Keyword

Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; hookworm; soil-tranmitted helminth; control; mass drug administration; Kome Island (Tanzania)

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Anthelmintics/*administration & dosage
Child
Child, Preschool
Communicable Disease Control/*organization & administration
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Helminthiasis/*diagnosis/*drug therapy
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis/*drug therapy
Islands
Lakes
Male
Prevalence
Schistosomiasis/*diagnosis/*drug therapy
Tanzania
Treatment Outcome
Anthelmintics