Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia
Mekuria Asnakew Asfaw,1 Chernet Hailu,2 Tariku J Beyene3 1Collaborative Research and Training Centre for NTDs, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 2Jimma University, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Jimma, Ethiopia; 3Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Research Insti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/evaluating-equity-and-coverage-in-mass-drug-administration-for-soil-tr-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PHMT |
| _version_ | 1818649685542305792 |
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| author | Asfaw MA Hailu C Beyene TJ |
| author_facet | Asfaw MA Hailu C Beyene TJ |
| author_sort | Asfaw MA |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mekuria Asnakew Asfaw,1 Chernet Hailu,2 Tariku J Beyene3 1Collaborative Research and Training Centre for NTDs, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 2Jimma University, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Jimma, Ethiopia; 3Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43015, USACorrespondence: Mekuria Asnakew Asfaw Tel +251-91-202-9517Email maksambaramr23@gmail.comBackground: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are prevalent in most developing countries, including Ethiopia, with school-age children (SAC) at high risk of infection. In Ethiopia, despite substantial progress being made on mass drug administration (MDA) coverage for STH infections, its implementation is facing challenges in hard-to-reach areas. This study thus aimed at assessing equity and coverage in MDA and identifying factors associated with drug coverage for STH infections among SAC in the hard-to-reach setting of southern Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the North Ari district, South Omo Zone in July 2019. Sample size was estimated following WHO drug-coverage evaluation guidelines. Factors associated with drug uptake for STH infections were identified using multivariate logistic regression.Results: Of 956 SAC participating in this study, the overall MDA coverage for STH was found to be 27.5% (95% CI 24.7%– 30.5%). The odds of having taken drugs were highest among school-enrolled children and in those who knew the purpose of MDA: about about double their counterparts. In contrast, the odds of drug uptake were lower by 69% among those who had got informed only when the drugs delivered and by 92% among those who needed to travel > 30 minutes to reach drug-distribution points than their counterparts.Conclusion: Achieving effective and equitable MDA coverage is facing serious challenges in the hard-to-reach setting of southern Ethiopia. The very low (27.5%) and inequitable MDA coverage found in this study are associated with school nonenrollment, inaccessibility, and lack of information, awareness, and mobilization. Social mobilization should be scaled up to inform and create awareness in the community ahead of MDA. Further, school-based deworming in settings with low school enrollment needs a modified strategy to reach those in need of drugs.Keywords: equity, mass drug administration, soil-transmitted helminths, North Ari, hard-to-reach setting |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:38:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f00bf56aeb384c43af16b1542637f887 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-9927 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:38:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f00bf56aeb384c43af16b1542637f8872022-12-21T22:08:24ZengDove Medical PressPediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics1179-99272021-07-01Volume 1232533366761Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern EthiopiaAsfaw MAHailu CBeyene TJMekuria Asnakew Asfaw,1 Chernet Hailu,2 Tariku J Beyene3 1Collaborative Research and Training Centre for NTDs, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 2Jimma University, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Jimma, Ethiopia; 3Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43015, USACorrespondence: Mekuria Asnakew Asfaw Tel +251-91-202-9517Email maksambaramr23@gmail.comBackground: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are prevalent in most developing countries, including Ethiopia, with school-age children (SAC) at high risk of infection. In Ethiopia, despite substantial progress being made on mass drug administration (MDA) coverage for STH infections, its implementation is facing challenges in hard-to-reach areas. This study thus aimed at assessing equity and coverage in MDA and identifying factors associated with drug coverage for STH infections among SAC in the hard-to-reach setting of southern Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the North Ari district, South Omo Zone in July 2019. Sample size was estimated following WHO drug-coverage evaluation guidelines. Factors associated with drug uptake for STH infections were identified using multivariate logistic regression.Results: Of 956 SAC participating in this study, the overall MDA coverage for STH was found to be 27.5% (95% CI 24.7%– 30.5%). The odds of having taken drugs were highest among school-enrolled children and in those who knew the purpose of MDA: about about double their counterparts. In contrast, the odds of drug uptake were lower by 69% among those who had got informed only when the drugs delivered and by 92% among those who needed to travel > 30 minutes to reach drug-distribution points than their counterparts.Conclusion: Achieving effective and equitable MDA coverage is facing serious challenges in the hard-to-reach setting of southern Ethiopia. The very low (27.5%) and inequitable MDA coverage found in this study are associated with school nonenrollment, inaccessibility, and lack of information, awareness, and mobilization. Social mobilization should be scaled up to inform and create awareness in the community ahead of MDA. Further, school-based deworming in settings with low school enrollment needs a modified strategy to reach those in need of drugs.Keywords: equity, mass drug administration, soil-transmitted helminths, North Ari, hard-to-reach settinghttps://www.dovepress.com/evaluating-equity-and-coverage-in-mass-drug-administration-for-soil-tr-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PHMTequitymass drug administrationsoil-transmitted helminthesnorth arihard-to-reach setting |
| spellingShingle | Asfaw MA Hailu C Beyene TJ Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics equity mass drug administration soil-transmitted helminthes north ari hard-to-reach setting |
| title | Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Evaluating Equity and Coverage in Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Age Children in the Hard-to-Reach Setting of Southern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | evaluating equity and coverage in mass drug administration for soil transmitted helminth infections among school age children in the hard to reach setting of southern ethiopia |
| topic | equity mass drug administration soil-transmitted helminthes north ari hard-to-reach setting |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/evaluating-equity-and-coverage-in-mass-drug-administration-for-soil-tr-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PHMT |
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