Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs.
<h4>Introduction</h4>Act to End NTDs | West, a USAID-funded program that supports national governments to eliminate or control five neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in West Africa including trachoma, lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helmin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-12-01
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| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011782&type=printable |
| _version_ | 1797377688576458752 |
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| author | Jennifer K Arney Maureen K Headland Andrea M Bertone Aboulaye Meite Virginie Ettiegne-Traore Kofi Asemanyi-Mensah Irene Dede Teiko Dzathor Ibrahim Kargbo-Labour Umu Jalloh Patricia Houck Diana Stukel |
| author_facet | Jennifer K Arney Maureen K Headland Andrea M Bertone Aboulaye Meite Virginie Ettiegne-Traore Kofi Asemanyi-Mensah Irene Dede Teiko Dzathor Ibrahim Kargbo-Labour Umu Jalloh Patricia Houck Diana Stukel |
| author_sort | Jennifer K Arney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4>Act to End NTDs | West, a USAID-funded program that supports national governments to eliminate or control five neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in West Africa including trachoma, lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, conducted a gender and social inclusion analysis to determine how NTDs differentially impact various populations and how gender and social norms impact NTD programs to inform future programming.<h4>Methods</h4>The study used a mixed methods approach including a literature review; primary qualitative data collection; and monitoring data in Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.<h4>Results</h4>Women and girls face additional health risks from many NTDs compared to men and boys. In addition to differential health burden, the social and economic impacts of NTD-related disability or infertility can be particularly dire for women and girls. Men were somewhat less likely to participate in mass drug administration (MDAs) due to: lack of information about campaigns, lack of access due to work, and higher levels of mistrust of the government and concerns about side effects of the medicines. Pregnant and breastfeeding women were sometimes excluded by community drug distributors (CDDs) from certain types of MDAs for which they are eligible. Training participation rates for CDDs and supervisors were nearly universally higher for men than women, even though feedback on the effectiveness of female CDDs was overwhelmingly positive, and female CDDs often have more access to other women in conservative households. The role of a CDD can lead to career and social opportunities for women. However, challenges faced by CDDs were seen as a greater barrier for women, including transportation, safety, household responsibilities, lower education levels, and low or lack of wages.<h4>Discussion</h4>Programs to address NTDs can promote equity and improve programming by increasing women's participation as CDDs and providing financial compensation. Additionally, programs should prioritize inclusive training for CDDs, and inclusive messaging about MDA for communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:57:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-640e83b125474b5386a58defdc9356d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:57:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-640e83b125474b5386a58defdc9356d52023-12-24T05:34:00ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352023-12-011712e001178210.1371/journal.pntd.0011782Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs.Jennifer K ArneyMaureen K HeadlandAndrea M BertoneAboulaye MeiteVirginie Ettiegne-TraoreKofi Asemanyi-MensahIrene Dede Teiko DzathorIbrahim Kargbo-LabourUmu JallohPatricia HouckDiana Stukel<h4>Introduction</h4>Act to End NTDs | West, a USAID-funded program that supports national governments to eliminate or control five neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in West Africa including trachoma, lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, conducted a gender and social inclusion analysis to determine how NTDs differentially impact various populations and how gender and social norms impact NTD programs to inform future programming.<h4>Methods</h4>The study used a mixed methods approach including a literature review; primary qualitative data collection; and monitoring data in Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.<h4>Results</h4>Women and girls face additional health risks from many NTDs compared to men and boys. In addition to differential health burden, the social and economic impacts of NTD-related disability or infertility can be particularly dire for women and girls. Men were somewhat less likely to participate in mass drug administration (MDAs) due to: lack of information about campaigns, lack of access due to work, and higher levels of mistrust of the government and concerns about side effects of the medicines. Pregnant and breastfeeding women were sometimes excluded by community drug distributors (CDDs) from certain types of MDAs for which they are eligible. Training participation rates for CDDs and supervisors were nearly universally higher for men than women, even though feedback on the effectiveness of female CDDs was overwhelmingly positive, and female CDDs often have more access to other women in conservative households. The role of a CDD can lead to career and social opportunities for women. However, challenges faced by CDDs were seen as a greater barrier for women, including transportation, safety, household responsibilities, lower education levels, and low or lack of wages.<h4>Discussion</h4>Programs to address NTDs can promote equity and improve programming by increasing women's participation as CDDs and providing financial compensation. Additionally, programs should prioritize inclusive training for CDDs, and inclusive messaging about MDA for communities.https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011782&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer K Arney Maureen K Headland Andrea M Bertone Aboulaye Meite Virginie Ettiegne-Traore Kofi Asemanyi-Mensah Irene Dede Teiko Dzathor Ibrahim Kargbo-Labour Umu Jalloh Patricia Houck Diana Stukel Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs. |
| title_full | Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs. |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs. |
| title_short | Synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender, disability, and ethnicity in Neglected Tropical Diseases programs. |
| title_sort | synthesis of findings from the literature and a qualitative research study on the impacts of gender disability and ethnicity in neglected tropical diseases programs |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011782&type=printable |
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