Projekt

The ongoing study investigates the feasibility of implementing mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis control in an informal urban setting in Kisumu City, Kenya. The proposed extension will address a key component in closing the gap in urban schistosomiasis control:Identification of marginalized sections of urban population, specifically street children, that are missed during MDA and their possible contribution to disease transmission. During the first phase of this study, a sentinel sample size of approximately 400 class 3-6 pupils were sampled yearly before each round of annual mass drug administration, for finger prick blood collection, anthropometric measurements (to monitor stunting and wasting), and parasitological screening to evaluate the impact of mass treatment strategies implemented in the informal settlement. Anemia was tested in these children by performing an Hb test on the finger prick blood, and sera stored for future assays. The goal for mass treatment of school age children is to avert morbidity, yet evaluation of mass drug administration studies only mostly uses parasitological tools for evaluation of impact. The planned extension will allow for completion of data analysis and manuscripts from the first phase, thesis defense by 3 of 5 Masters candidates training on this project, and project completion by 1 PhD candidate.

• Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fleischer

  Bernhard-Nocht-Institut
  für Tropenmedizin (BNITM)
  Hamburg
  

• Dr. Pauline NM Mwinzi

  Kenya Medical Research Institute
  Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu
  Kisumu
  Kenia
  

• Low Levels of Awareness Despite High Prevalence of Schistosomiasis among Communities in Nyalenda Informal Settlement, Kisumu City, Western Kenya

• Experiences and perspectives of community health workers from implementing treatment for schistosomiasis using the community directed intervention strategy in an informal settlement in Kisumu City, western Kenya.