Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the health impact of a national control programme targeting schistosomiasis and intestinal nematodes in Uganda, which has provided population-based anthelmintic chemotherapy since 2003. METHODS: We conducted longitudinal surveys on infection status, haemoglobin concentr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The World Health Organization
2007-02-01
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| Series: | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862007000200006&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797282418317590528 |
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| author | Narcis B Kabatereine Simon Brooker Artemis Koukounari Francis Kazibwe Edridah M Tukahebwa Fiona M Fleming Yaobi Zhang Joanne P Webster J Russell Stothard Alan Fenwick |
| author_facet | Narcis B Kabatereine Simon Brooker Artemis Koukounari Francis Kazibwe Edridah M Tukahebwa Fiona M Fleming Yaobi Zhang Joanne P Webster J Russell Stothard Alan Fenwick |
| author_sort | Narcis B Kabatereine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the health impact of a national control programme targeting schistosomiasis and intestinal nematodes in Uganda, which has provided population-based anthelmintic chemotherapy since 2003. METHODS: We conducted longitudinal surveys on infection status, haemoglobin concentration and clinical morbidity in 1871 randomly selected schoolchildren from 37 schools in eight districts across Uganda at three time points - before chemotherapy and after one year and two years of annual mass chemotherapy. FINDINGS: Mass treatment with praziquantel and albendazole led to a significant decrease in the intensity of Schistosoma mansoni - 70% (95% confidence interval (CI): 66-73%) after one year and 82% (95% CI: 80-85%) after two years of treatment. Intensity of hookworm infection also decreased (75% and 93%; unadjusted). There was a significant increase in haemoglobin concentration after one (0.135 g/dL (95% CI: 0.126-0.144)) and two years (0.303 g/dL (95% CI: 0.293-0.312)) of treatment, and a significant decrease in signs of early clinical morbidity. The impact of intervention on S. mansoni prevalence and intensity was similar to that predicted by mathematical models of the impact of chemotherapy on human schistosomiasis. Improvements in haemoglobin concentration were greatest among children who were anaemic or harbouring heavy S. mansoni infection at baseline. CONCLUSION: Anthelmintic treatment delivered as part of a national helminth control programme can decrease infection and morbidity among schoolchildren and improve haemoglobin concentration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:12:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-467fae0e5d244885899abefef6231f8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0042-9686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:12:42Z |
| publishDate | 2007-02-01 |
| publisher | The World Health Organization |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| spelling | doaj.art-467fae0e5d244885899abefef6231f8d2024-03-03T00:45:41ZengThe World Health OrganizationBulletin of the World Health Organization0042-96862007-02-018529199S0042-96862007000200006Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildrenNarcis B Kabatereine0Simon Brooker1Artemis Koukounari2Francis Kazibwe3Edridah M Tukahebwa4Fiona M Fleming5Yaobi Zhang6Joanne P Webster7J Russell Stothard8Alan Fenwick9Ministry of HealthLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineImperial CollegeMinistry of HealthMinistry of HealthImperial CollegeImperial CollegeImperial CollegeNatural History MuseumImperial CollegeOBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the health impact of a national control programme targeting schistosomiasis and intestinal nematodes in Uganda, which has provided population-based anthelmintic chemotherapy since 2003. METHODS: We conducted longitudinal surveys on infection status, haemoglobin concentration and clinical morbidity in 1871 randomly selected schoolchildren from 37 schools in eight districts across Uganda at three time points - before chemotherapy and after one year and two years of annual mass chemotherapy. FINDINGS: Mass treatment with praziquantel and albendazole led to a significant decrease in the intensity of Schistosoma mansoni - 70% (95% confidence interval (CI): 66-73%) after one year and 82% (95% CI: 80-85%) after two years of treatment. Intensity of hookworm infection also decreased (75% and 93%; unadjusted). There was a significant increase in haemoglobin concentration after one (0.135 g/dL (95% CI: 0.126-0.144)) and two years (0.303 g/dL (95% CI: 0.293-0.312)) of treatment, and a significant decrease in signs of early clinical morbidity. The impact of intervention on S. mansoni prevalence and intensity was similar to that predicted by mathematical models of the impact of chemotherapy on human schistosomiasis. Improvements in haemoglobin concentration were greatest among children who were anaemic or harbouring heavy S. mansoni infection at baseline. CONCLUSION: Anthelmintic treatment delivered as part of a national helminth control programme can decrease infection and morbidity among schoolchildren and improve haemoglobin concentration.http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862007000200006&lng=en&tlng=en |
| spellingShingle | Narcis B Kabatereine Simon Brooker Artemis Koukounari Francis Kazibwe Edridah M Tukahebwa Fiona M Fleming Yaobi Zhang Joanne P Webster J Russell Stothard Alan Fenwick Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| title | Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren |
| title_full | Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren |
| title_fullStr | Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren |
| title_short | Impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in Ugandan schoolchildren |
| title_sort | impact of a national helminth control programme on infection and morbidity in ugandan schoolchildren |
| url | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862007000200006&lng=en&tlng=en |
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