An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reliable and updated maps of helminth (worm) infection distributions are essential to target control strategies to those populations in greatest need. Although many surveys have been conducted in endemic countries, the data are rarel...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2009-07-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| Online Access: | http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/8/1/42 |
| _version_ | 1818787699896614912 |
|---|---|
| author | Karanja Peris Mbotha Deborah Lwambo Nicholas JS Ndayishimiye Onésime Mwanje Mariam T Mupfasoni Denise Smith Jennifer L Kabatereine Narcis B Brooker Simon Mwandawiro Charles Muchiri Eric Clements Archie CA Bundy Donald AP Snow Robert W |
| author_facet | Karanja Peris Mbotha Deborah Lwambo Nicholas JS Ndayishimiye Onésime Mwanje Mariam T Mupfasoni Denise Smith Jennifer L Kabatereine Narcis B Brooker Simon Mwandawiro Charles Muchiri Eric Clements Archie CA Bundy Donald AP Snow Robert W |
| author_sort | Karanja Peris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reliable and updated maps of helminth (worm) infection distributions are essential to target control strategies to those populations in greatest need. Although many surveys have been conducted in endemic countries, the data are rarely available in a form that is accessible to policy makers and the managers of public health programmes. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa, where empirical data are seldom in the public domain. In an attempt to address the paucity of geographical information on helminth risk, this article describes the development of an updated global atlas of human helminth infection, showing the example of East Africa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Empirical, cross-sectional estimates of infection prevalence conducted since 1980 were identified using electronic and manual search strategies of published and unpublished sources. A number of inclusion criteria were imposed for identified information, which was extracted into a standardized database. Details of survey population, diagnostic methods, sample size and numbers infected with schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths were recorded. A unique identifier linked each record to an electronic copy of the source document, in portable document format. An attempt was made to identify the geographical location of each record using standardized geolocation procedures and the assembled data were incorporated into a geographical information system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the time of writing, over 2,748 prevalence surveys were identified through multiple search strategies. Of these, 2,612 were able to be geolocated and mapped. More than half (58%) of included surveys were from grey literature or unpublished sources, underlining the importance of reviewing in-country sources. 66% of all surveys were conducted since 2000. Comprehensive, countrywide data are available for Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. In contrast, information for Kenya and Tanzania is typically clustered in specific regions of the country, with few records from areas with very low population density and/or environmental conditions which are unfavourable for helminth transmission. Information is presented on the prevalence and geographical distribution for the major helminth species.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>For all five countries, the information assembled in the current atlas provides the most reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive source of data on the distribution of common helminth infections to guide the rational implementation of control efforts.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:11:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3aa4beaf9d444aa5a7afbd7a9af139b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-072X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:11:56Z |
| publishDate | 2009-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3aa4beaf9d444aa5a7afbd7a9af139b62022-12-21T21:05:06ZengBMCInternational Journal of Health Geographics1476-072X2009-07-01814210.1186/1476-072X-8-42An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East AfricaKaranja PerisMbotha DeborahLwambo Nicholas JSNdayishimiye OnésimeMwanje Mariam TMupfasoni DeniseSmith Jennifer LKabatereine Narcis BBrooker SimonMwandawiro CharlesMuchiri EricClements Archie CABundy Donald APSnow Robert W<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reliable and updated maps of helminth (worm) infection distributions are essential to target control strategies to those populations in greatest need. Although many surveys have been conducted in endemic countries, the data are rarely available in a form that is accessible to policy makers and the managers of public health programmes. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa, where empirical data are seldom in the public domain. In an attempt to address the paucity of geographical information on helminth risk, this article describes the development of an updated global atlas of human helminth infection, showing the example of East Africa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Empirical, cross-sectional estimates of infection prevalence conducted since 1980 were identified using electronic and manual search strategies of published and unpublished sources. A number of inclusion criteria were imposed for identified information, which was extracted into a standardized database. Details of survey population, diagnostic methods, sample size and numbers infected with schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths were recorded. A unique identifier linked each record to an electronic copy of the source document, in portable document format. An attempt was made to identify the geographical location of each record using standardized geolocation procedures and the assembled data were incorporated into a geographical information system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the time of writing, over 2,748 prevalence surveys were identified through multiple search strategies. Of these, 2,612 were able to be geolocated and mapped. More than half (58%) of included surveys were from grey literature or unpublished sources, underlining the importance of reviewing in-country sources. 66% of all surveys were conducted since 2000. Comprehensive, countrywide data are available for Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. In contrast, information for Kenya and Tanzania is typically clustered in specific regions of the country, with few records from areas with very low population density and/or environmental conditions which are unfavourable for helminth transmission. Information is presented on the prevalence and geographical distribution for the major helminth species.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>For all five countries, the information assembled in the current atlas provides the most reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive source of data on the distribution of common helminth infections to guide the rational implementation of control efforts.</p>http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/8/1/42 |
| spellingShingle | Karanja Peris Mbotha Deborah Lwambo Nicholas JS Ndayishimiye Onésime Mwanje Mariam T Mupfasoni Denise Smith Jennifer L Kabatereine Narcis B Brooker Simon Mwandawiro Charles Muchiri Eric Clements Archie CA Bundy Donald AP Snow Robert W An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa International Journal of Health Geographics |
| title | An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa |
| title_full | An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa |
| title_fullStr | An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa |
| title_short | An updated atlas of human helminth infections: the example of East Africa |
| title_sort | updated atlas of human helminth infections the example of east africa |
| url | http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/8/1/42 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karanjaperis anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mbothadeborah anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT lwambonicholasjs anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT ndayishimiyeonesime anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mwanjemariamt anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mupfasonidenise anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT smithjenniferl anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT kabatereinenarcisb anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT brookersimon anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mwandawirocharles anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT muchirieric anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT clementsarchieca anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT bundydonaldap anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT snowrobertw anupdatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT karanjaperis updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mbothadeborah updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT lwambonicholasjs updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT ndayishimiyeonesime updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mwanjemariamt updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mupfasonidenise updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT smithjenniferl updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT kabatereinenarcisb updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT brookersimon updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT mwandawirocharles updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT muchirieric updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT clementsarchieca updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT bundydonaldap updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica AT snowrobertw updatedatlasofhumanhelminthinfectionstheexampleofeastafrica |