Soil‐transmitted helminthiasis in Myanmar and approximate costs for countrywide control

Abstract

SummaryPrevious surveys in Myanmar indicate that soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a significant public health problem. However the majority of these surveys are small scale or hospital based. To date there has been no countrywide assessment of the prevalence and intensity of STH infection. We conducted a survey (June 2002-June 2003 to assess the magnitude of STH infection in school age children in each of the different ecological areas of the country. In each area, five schools were selected and from each one, 50 children were randomly chosen. Parasitological and nutritional data were collected from each child. We found an overall prevalence of infection of 69%: 18% had a moderate-heavy intensity of infection, 22% were anaemic. A pilot exercise to treat 25 000 school age children in the 200 schools of Nyangdone Township tested the strategy before scaling up and to generate some rough costings. A crude calculation of the expenditure to buy and deliver the drugs, including the costs incurred in the teacher training, concluded that the cost per child was approximately 0.05 USD.

First Molecular Identifications of Necator americanus and Ancylostoma ceylanicum Infecting Rural Communities in Lower Myanmar

“…[6][7][8][9][10] National surveys on the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Myanmar reported a reduction in hookworm prevalence in schoolchildren from 6.5% to 0.3% 7 years after a national deworming program. 11,12 A diagnosis of hookworm infection was usually made by microscopic examination of eggs or larvae in the fecal samples. However, species identification of hookworms is difficult and cannot be done using eggs or larvae.…”

Benchmarking the Cost per Person of Mass Treatment for Selected Neglected Tropical Diseases: An Approach Based on Literature Review and Meta-regression with Web-Based Software Application

“…Three studies stand out for their low estimates of cost, describing fewer cost categories than the others. [8][9][10] To the random effects regression model, we add dummy variables for these three studies. One study stands out for its high estimate of cost.…”

“…Fri , Kri and Mon are dummies for three studies with incomplete cost categories. [8][9][10] Colons (:) indicated interaction terms.…”

Economic and Financial Evaluation of Neglected Tropical Diseases

“…This study did not include teacher training or time to administer the drug or distribution to the schools (these were not financial costs to the programme as they were financed/donated). In a school in Myanmar, a crude calculation of the cost of a pilot exercise for MDA with albendazole was estimated at USD 0.05 per child (Montresor et al, 2004). This estimate included the cost to buy and deliver drugs, cost for teacher training and training materials and personnel per diems.…”