Morbidity Management and Disease Prevention

The NTD community has made significant strides in scaling up MDA to reach vulnerable populations across the globe; however, significant challenges remain, particularly in terms of ensuring equitable access to disease management, disability, and inclusion (DMDI) services, formerly MMDP. Research is needed to understand key barriers to the integration of DMDI services into the health care system, what additional training is required for health care workers and how to reduce barriers that prevent persons with disability from taking advantage of existing services. Beyond care for physical disabilities related to NTDs, research on the stigma surrounding persons affected and related mental health issues arising from disability is necessary. Because NTDs frequently overlap in terms of their geographic distributions, it is also important to determine how to integrate DMDI services across diseases. Finally, examples of successful country-led strategies to address DMDI services will become essential as additional diseases move towards elimination and WHO dossier submission.

 

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Added 24 September 2021

Mf Clearance post-IDA in Samoa

Australian National University (ANU)
Lymphatic filariasis
Research question

What is the effectiveness of appropriately dosed IDA in clearing microfilariae (Mf) from Mf positive people who (i) reported taking triple drug therapy with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole (IDA) in August 2018, and (ii) did not report recently taking IDA.

This will be investigated by:

  • assessing the baseline (current) Mf presence and density before re/treatment with IDA, against which post-treatment Mf presence and density can be compared
  • assessing the peak plasma concentration levels of ivermectin, DEC and albendazole in treated Mf positive individuals to identify whether the recommended dosages of medications are sufficient for achieving effective plasma concentrations
  • assessing Mf clearance one week following directly observed IDA re/treatment
Added 28 September 2021

Leveraging the experience of community-based HIV prevention responses for increasing awareness and demand for FGS prevention, diagnosis and treatment

LVCT Health
Schistosomiasis
Research question

This study aims to understand and address several issues: lack of knowledge among health care workers (HCW) and community health workers (CHW) about FGS, knowledge and stigma at the community level, the potential for integrating FGS into existing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, and the potential for improving equity of MDAs for women of reproductive age.

Formative research will be used to develop HCW training modules, social mobilization and sensitization messaging, and to assess baseline knowledge. The team plans to conduct cross-sectional community surveys, focus groups with CHWs, and interviews with health workers that measure KAPs. In the intervention phase, the team plans to incorporate FGS material into existing SRH programs, including an online/social media platform used to teach teenage girls about HIV and STIs. They are also planning community outreach activities that coincide with the planned MDAs and are planning to field test the community-based drug delivery outlined in Kenya’s “Breaking Transmission” strategy. Testing and treatment for FGS will be improved at health facilities. Radio messaging using crafted behavior change messaging will be deployed.

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