Wicked Solution for Wicked Problems: Citizen Science for Vector-Borne Disease Control in Africa

Ashepet, Mercy Gloria; Jacobs, Liesbet; Oudheusden, Michiel Van; Huyse, Tine

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2020.10.004

Cited by 20 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…A citizen-driven approach also requires considerations that span beyond data-collection design and implementation. First, participant motivation is key to ensuring sustainable, long-term participant engagement (Pocock et al 2019;Ashepet et al 2021;West et al 2021). Second, Pocock et al (2019) identified the reluctance of uptake of citizen science by policy makers as an important institutional barrier for their implementation in East Africa.…”

Section: Beyond the Pilot Study: Broader Perspectives For Citizen Science And Vector Monitoring In Resource-limited Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, Pocock et al (2019) identified the reluctance of uptake of citizen science by policy makers as an important institutional barrier for their implementation in East Africa. Aside from these two challenges, a citizen science approach does offer the added possibility for the volunteers to act as communicators between the professional researchers and the wider community audience (Jacobs et al 2019;Pocock et al 2019;Ashepet et al 2021). Hence, ongoing research within the ATRAP project will also focus on these three aspects to pursue scientifically, societally, and policyrelevant citizen science.…”

Section: Beyond the Pilot Study: Broader Perspectives For Citizen Science And Vector Monitoring In Resource-limited Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the field of vector-borne diseases, citizenbased platforms have contributed to unprecedented datasets on arthropod vectors that transmit diseases like malaria, Lyme disease, yellow fever, and Zika (Hamer et al 2018;Nieto et al 2018;Eritja et al 2019). Despite these encouraging results, this approach to vector monitoring is still rare in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ashepet et al 2021) and is to our knowledge not yet applied within the field of schistosomiasis research.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Potential of Citizen-Driven Monitoring of Freshwater Snails in Schistosomiasis Research

Brees

Huyse

Tumusiime

et al. 2021

CSTP

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Schistosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease affecting more than 200 million people worldwide, predominantly in Africa. The World Health Organization recently highlighted the importance of targeted control of the freshwater snails acting as intermediate hosts for the parasites causing schistosomiasis. However, because of a shortage of trained experts and resources, detailed information on spatiotemporal snail distributions, which is needed for targeted control measures, is often missing. We explore the potential of citizen science to build these much-needed datasets through fine-grained, frequent snail sampling. We trained a network of 25 citizen scientists to weekly report on snail host abundances in 77 predefined water contact sites in and around Lake Albert (western Uganda). Snail abundance, together with marked GPS locations, water chemistry parameters, and photographs of the identified snails are recorded and submitted using the freely available mobile phone application KoBoToolbox. Trained researchers then engage in remote, semi-automatic validation of the submissions, after which there is an opportunity to provide targeted feedback to the citizen scientists. Five months after the operationalisation of the network, a total of 570 reports were submitted and personalized feedback was given, resulting in lasting improvements in subsequent reporting and snail genus identification. The preliminary results show the possibility of citizen science to independently obtain reliable data on the presence of schistosome snail hosts. We therefore argue that citizen-driven monitoring on a high spatiotemporal resolution could help to generate the much-needed data to support local targeted snail control measures in remote and/or resource-limited environments.

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Section: Beyond the Pilot Study: Broader Perspectives For Citizen Science And Vector Monitoring In Resource-limited Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Beyond the Pilot Study: Broader Perspectives For Citizen Science And Vector Monitoring In Resource-limited Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Potential of Citizen-Driven Monitoring of Freshwater Snails in Schistosomiasis Research

Brees

Huyse

Tumusiime

et al. 2021

CSTP

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“…This requires investment costs upfront (ICT, human resources etc. ), but these may largely be paid off by boosting vector surveillance data collection, as well as by building durable partnerships between public health authorities and citizens [ 53 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring mosquito nuisance for the development of a citizen science approach for malaria vector surveillance in Rwanda

Murindahabi

Takken

Misago

et al. 2021

Malar J

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Background Many countries, including Rwanda, have mosquito monitoring programmes in place to support decision making in the fight against malaria. However, these programmes can be costly, and require technical (entomological) expertise. Involving citizens in data collection can greatly support such activities, but this has not yet been thoroughly investigated in a rural African context. Methods Prior to the implementation of such a citizen-science approach, a household entomological survey was conducted in October–November 2017 and repeated one year later in Busoro and Ruhuha sectors, in southern and eastern province of Rwanda, respectively. The goal was to evaluate the perception of mosquito nuisance reported by citizens as a potential indicator for malaria vector hotspots. Firstly, mosquito abundance and species composition were determined using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps inside the houses. Secondly, household members were interviewed about malaria risk factors and their perceived level of mosquito nuisance. Results Tiled roofs, walls made of mud and wood, as well as the number of occupants in the house were predictors for the number of mosquitoes (Culicidae) in the houses, while the presence of eaves plus walls made of mud and wood were predictors for malaria vector abundance. Perception of mosquito nuisance reported indoors tended to be significantly correlated with the number of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) and Culicidae collected indoors, but this varied across years and sectors. At the village level, nuisance also significantly correlated with An. gambiae s.l. and total mosquito density, but only in 2018 while not in 2017. Conclusions Perception of mosquito nuisance denoted in a questionnaire survey could be used as a global indicator of malaria vector hotspots. Hence, involving citizens in such activities can complement malaria vector surveillance and control.

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“…Penyakit vector-borne diseases penyakit menular yang sulit dikendalikan yang bersifat kompleks (Braks et al, 2014;Dillon et al, 2016). Banyak cara yang sudah dilakukan untuk mengatasi penyakit ini namunpenyakit ini akan kembali muncul, khusunya pada daerah-daerah yang menjadi habitanya serta daerah yang penghasilnya rendah (Ashepet et al, 2021). Selain kondisi lingkungan yang mengakitkan kembalinya berkembanganya penyakit yang disebabkan oleh vector adalah iklim.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Pelatihan Pemamfaatan Pestisida alami Berbahan lokal untuk Pencegahan Vektor Demam Berdarah Dengue (DBD) di Kelurahan Kelapa Lima Kota Kupang

Detha

2021

IJCSL

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Community Service Activities have been carried out in Kelapa Lima Village. This activity aims to provide information and knowledge to the public about the dangers of dengue hemorrhagic fever and its preventive measures through the use of potential mosquito repellent plants. Mosquito repellent plants can be found in the yard of the house so that the community can provide land in the yard of their house to plant these plants that have the potential to act as mosquito repellent. The method used in this service activity is in the form of counseling, training, and cultivating plants as an anti-mosquito agent that causes dengue hemorrhagic fever. The conclusion obtained is an increase in the knowledge of the public's understanding of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, an increase in public understanding of the bio-ecology of the vector that causes dengue hemorrhagic fever, utilizing plants that have the potential to act as mosquito repellents.

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Wicked Solution for Wicked Problems: Citizen Science for Vector-Borne Disease Control in Africa

Cited by 20 publications

References 13 publications

The Potential of Citizen-Driven Monitoring of Freshwater Snails in Schistosomiasis Research

The Potential of Citizen-Driven Monitoring of Freshwater Snails in Schistosomiasis Research

Monitoring mosquito nuisance for the development of a citizen science approach for malaria vector surveillance in Rwanda

Pelatihan Pemamfaatan Pestisida alami Berbahan lokal untuk Pencegahan Vektor Demam Berdarah Dengue (DBD) di Kelurahan Kelapa Lima Kota Kupang

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