SCI Foundation

A pilot study to identify meaningful and measurable targets for detecting the control of schistosomiasis-related morbidity in Africa. The overall study is designed to answer the following primary evaluation questions:

• What are the infection levels of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium below which there is little, or no, detectable schistosomiasis-associated morbidity?
• What are the optimal morbidity markers for S. mansoni and S. haematobium?
• What are the optimal species-specific morbidity goals for which schistosomiasis control programs should be aiming?

This study aims to integrate screening and preventive treatment with praziquantel for FGS into routine HIV and reproductive health care visits for women. A pilot study will be conducted in four health facilities with a target sample size of 4800 women over a six-month period. Trainings will be conducted for health workers and the team will use a participatory design process with key stakeholders to ensure that barriers to integration in the health system and community participation are addressed. A scale-up report will be written with stakeholder engagement and all training materials that were developed will be instantly available for use in other clinics in Cote d’Ivoire. Delivery of praziquantel to the four facilities in the pilot study will utilize existing drug-procurement and delivery systems to ensure sustainability.

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.

What is the optimal sampling strategy for SCH impact assessments to enable sub-implementation unit decisions? 

How is the epidemiological distribution of Schistosoma haematobium in school aged children (5 to 14 years) after multiple rounds of preventive chemotherapy across three districts in Togo.

A pilot study on the burden of female genital schistosomiasis nested within the ongoing MORBID study set to identify meaningful and measurable targets for detecting the control of schistosomiasis-related morbidity in Africa. 

This pilot sub-study is designed to answer the following questions

I.    What is the burden of FGS in a S.haematobium endemic area in Malawi?
II.    Are the current diagnostic tools available adequate to assess the true burden of FGS
III.    What are some specific morbidity reduction goals for FGS that control programs should be aiming for?"