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. 2022 Feb 28;10(1):e2000703.
doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00703. Print 2022 Feb 28.

Discovery of a Hidden Schistosomiasis Endemic in the Salamat Region of Chad, Africa

Timothy Visclosky  1 , Andrew Hashikawa  2 , Eric Kroner  3
Affiliations

Discovery of a Hidden Schistosomiasis Endemic in the Salamat Region of Chad, Africa

Timothy Visclosky et al. Glob Health Sci Pract. .

Abstract

There is currently a severe paucity of rural epidemiologic data on urogenital schistosomiasis in the Republic of Chad in north-central Africa that is hindering national control strategies. Our study describes a mobile medical team's 4-year effort to collect data and provide mass therapeutic and preventive chemotherapy in the Salamat Region of Chad, a previously uninvestigated rural area. To overcome severe limitations in time, resources, support, and infrastructure, the team employed several time- and cost-saving techniques that included: (1) traveling by request and referral to utilize local knowledge to find the areas of highest need, (2) conducting convenience sampling for screening, (3) using simple but validated tools to expedite treatment and data gathering, and (4) working within cultural contexts to find and treat the most school-age children possible. The team managed a total of 11,832 patient encounters and found a 55% rate of hematuria (n=6,495) among school-age children, roughly double previous estimates. Rates of hematuria were higher in males (61%, n=3,955/6,466) than females (48%, n=2,301/4,806) and among adolescents (> 65% in all age groups aged 10 years and older). These methods outline an efficient and effective strategy implemented under real-world conditions to enact therapeutic and preventive chemotherapy campaigns in resource-limited settings by engaging village leadership and developing locally driven solutions. Our data highlight the need for continued local epidemiologic efforts to treat the substantial number of children severely affected with schistosomiasis.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Map of Chad Showing the Salamat Region Source: United Nations Department of Field Support, 2014.
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Example of convenience sampling of village children. © 2016 Eric Kroner
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World Health Organization tablet pole being used to measure the height of a child. © 2017 Eric Kroner
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Rates of Hematuria Among School-Age Children Screened for Urogenital Schistosomiasis, by Age, Salamat Region, Chad
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Rates of Hematuria Among School-Age Children Screened for Urogenital Schistosomiasis, by Gender, Salamat Region, Chad
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Number of Patient Encounters With a Mobile Medical Team Screening for Urogenital Schistosomiasis, by Year, Salamat Region, Chad
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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