Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System
Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a complication of <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> infection, and imposes a health burden whose magnitude is not fully explored. It is estimated that up to 56 million women in sub-Saharan Africa have FGS, and almost 20 million more cases will occur i...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/11/382 |
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| author | Takalani Girly Nemungadi Tsakani Ernica Furumele Mary Kay Gugerty Amadou Garba Djirmay Saloshni Naidoo Eyrun Flörecke Kjetland |
| author_facet | Takalani Girly Nemungadi Tsakani Ernica Furumele Mary Kay Gugerty Amadou Garba Djirmay Saloshni Naidoo Eyrun Flörecke Kjetland |
| author_sort | Takalani Girly Nemungadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a complication of <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> infection, and imposes a health burden whose magnitude is not fully explored. It is estimated that up to 56 million women in sub-Saharan Africa have FGS, and almost 20 million more cases will occur in the next decade unless infected girls are treated. Schistosomiasis is reported throughout the year in South Africa in areas known to be endemic, but there is no control programme. We analyze five actions for both a better understanding of the burden of FGS and reducing its prevalence in Africa, namely: (1) schistosomiasis prevention by establishing a formal control programme and increasing access to treatment, (2) introducing FGS screening, (3) providing knowledge to health care workers and communities, (4) vector control, and (5) water, sanitation, and hygiene. Schistosomiasis is focal in South Africa, with most localities moderately affected (prevalence between 10% and 50%), and some pockets that are high risk (more than 50% prevalence). However, in order to progress towards elimination, the five actions are yet to be implemented in addition to the current (and only) control strategy of case-by-case treatment. The main challenge that South Africa faces is a lack of access to WHO-accredited donated medication for mass drug administration. The establishment of a formal and funded programme would address these issues and begin the implementation of the recommended actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:57:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c4e0f691ef34fcc894a0b257a1f907b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:57:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c4e0f691ef34fcc894a0b257a1f907b2023-11-24T10:15:52ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662022-11-0171138210.3390/tropicalmed7110382Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care SystemTakalani Girly Nemungadi0Tsakani Ernica Furumele1Mary Kay Gugerty2Amadou Garba Djirmay3Saloshni Naidoo4Eyrun Flörecke Kjetland5Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South AfricaCommunicable Disease Control Directorate, National Department of Health, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaEvans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-3055, USADepartment of the Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, SwitzerlandDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South AfricaDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South AfricaFemale genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a complication of <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> infection, and imposes a health burden whose magnitude is not fully explored. It is estimated that up to 56 million women in sub-Saharan Africa have FGS, and almost 20 million more cases will occur in the next decade unless infected girls are treated. Schistosomiasis is reported throughout the year in South Africa in areas known to be endemic, but there is no control programme. We analyze five actions for both a better understanding of the burden of FGS and reducing its prevalence in Africa, namely: (1) schistosomiasis prevention by establishing a formal control programme and increasing access to treatment, (2) introducing FGS screening, (3) providing knowledge to health care workers and communities, (4) vector control, and (5) water, sanitation, and hygiene. Schistosomiasis is focal in South Africa, with most localities moderately affected (prevalence between 10% and 50%), and some pockets that are high risk (more than 50% prevalence). However, in order to progress towards elimination, the five actions are yet to be implemented in addition to the current (and only) control strategy of case-by-case treatment. The main challenge that South Africa faces is a lack of access to WHO-accredited donated medication for mass drug administration. The establishment of a formal and funded programme would address these issues and begin the implementation of the recommended actions.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/11/382female genital schistosomiasis (FGS)schistosomiasishomogenous yellow patchgrainy sandy patchhealth care systemSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Takalani Girly Nemungadi Tsakani Ernica Furumele Mary Kay Gugerty Amadou Garba Djirmay Saloshni Naidoo Eyrun Flörecke Kjetland Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) schistosomiasis homogenous yellow patch grainy sandy patch health care system South Africa |
| title | Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System |
| title_full | Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System |
| title_fullStr | Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System |
| title_short | Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System |
| title_sort | establishing and integrating a female genital schistosomiasis control programme into the existing health care system |
| topic | female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) schistosomiasis homogenous yellow patch grainy sandy patch health care system South Africa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/11/382 |
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