Successful Control of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in School Age Children in Burkina Faso and an Example of Community-Based Assessment via Lymphatic Filariasis Transmission Assessment Survey

Abstract

BackgroundBurkina Faso is endemic with soil-transmitted helminth infections. Over a decade of preventive chemotherapy has been implemented through annual lymphatic filariasis (LF) mass drug administration (MDA) for population aged five years and over, biennial treatment of school age children with albendazole together with schistosomiasis MDA and biannual treatment of pre-school age children through Child Health Days. Assessments were conducted to evaluate the current situation and to determine the treatment strategy for the future.Methodology/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional assessment was conducted in 22 sentinel sites across the country in 2013. In total, 3,514 school age children (1,748 boys and 1,766 girls) were examined by the Kato-Katz method. Overall, soil-transmitted helminth prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI: 1.0–1.8%) in children examined. Hookworm was the main species detected, with prevalence of 1.2% (95% CI: 0.9–1.6%) and mean egg counts of 2.1 epg (95% CI: 0–4.2 epg). Among regions, the Centre Ouest region had the highest hookworm prevalence of 3.4% (95% CI: 1.9–6.1%) and mean egg counts of 14.9 epg (95% CI: 3.3–26.6 epg). A separate assessment was conducted in the Centre Nord region in 2014 using community-based cluster survey design during an LF transmission assessment survey (TAS). In this assessment, 351 children aged 6–7 years and 345 children aged 10–14 years were examined, with two cases (0.6% (95% CI: 0.2–2.1%)) and seven cases (2.0% (95% CI: 1.0–4.1%)) of hookworm infection was identified respectively. The results using both age groups categorized the region to be 2% to <10% in STH prevalence according to the pre-defined cut-off values.Conclusions/SignificanceThrough large-scale preventive chemotherapy, Burkina Faso has effectively controlled STH in school age children in the country. Research should be conducted on future strategies to consolidate the gain and to interrupt STH transmission in Burkina Faso. It is also demonstrated that LF TAS provides one feasible and efficient platform to assess the STH situation for post LF MDA decision making.

Defining stopping criteria for ending randomized clinical trials that investigate the interruption of transmission of soil-transmitted helminths employing mass drug administration

“…One of the drugs used for LF treatment is albendazole, which is also one of the most effective drugs to treat STH [ 18 ]. Therefore, countries with a historic LF programme provide good options to investigate the possibility of STH transmission interruption, as past treatment will already have reduced infection levels if high coverage levels have been sustained [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Effectiveness of a community-based educational programme in reducing the cumulative incidence and prevalence of human Taenia solium cysticercosis in Burkina Faso in 2011–14 (EFECAB): a cluster-randomised controlled trial

“…Indeed, in Burkina Faso, such programmes were gradually interrupted after the goals of the lymphatic filariasis control programme were reached in 2012. 19 Moreover, the importance of using implementation research methods and grounding interventions in social and behavioural theory are increasingly being recognised as important means for maximising potential programme effectiveness as well as ultimate dissemination, scale-up, and sustainability. 20 Theory-based interventions have been found to be effective 21 and theory, when combined with appropriate evaluation designs, enhances our understanding of the effectiveness of interventions.…”

Low Level of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Children 20 Years After Initiation of Infant Vaccination Program in Wallis and Futuna

“…The team composition and skill set required for both surveys were identical, and there was no need to have extra human resources for field work. This is in contrast to several soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) prevalence surveys undertaken using TAS as an access platform, which included on-site stool smear examination and accompanied microscopist 24,25 or additional teams for STH survey. 3) There was a detailed planning, including several training workshops for the field staff on the use of the test kits and data collection, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency and the technical partner.…”