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. 2024 Mar 25;11(Suppl 1):S101-S106.
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofae050. eCollection 2024 Mar.

The Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) Shigella Surveillance Study in Malawi

Donnie Mategula  1   2   3 , Maureen Ndalama  1 , Clement Lefu  1 , Jobiba Chinkhumba  3 , Latif Ndeketa  1   3   4 , Vitumbiko Munthali  1 , Clifford Chitala  1 , Thandizo Malemia  1 , Gertrude Million  1 , Ishmail Mbutuka  1 , Ranken Mhone  1 , Ethel Makwenda  1 , Mussa James  1 , Cornelius Bwanali  1 , Gift Kazembe  1 , Abell Manundo  1 , Evance Chauluka  1 , Salama Chitalo  1 , Ethel Alumando  1 , Dalitso Longwe  1 , Maggie Matandika  1 , Paul Jonasi  1 , Agra Thindwa  1 , Deborah Phiri  1 , Richard Wachepa  1 , Flywell Kawonga  1 , Victor Maiden  1 , Mary Charles  1 , Ida Kapindula  1 , Desiree Witte  1   4 , Ann M Turner  4 , Christina Bronowski  4 , Kate Baker  4   5 , Naor Bar-Zeev  6 , Melita A Gordon  1   4 , Queen Dube  7   8 , Nigel A Cunliffe  4 , Khuzwayo C Jere  1   4   7 , Jennifer Cornick  1   4
Affiliations

The Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) Shigella Surveillance Study in Malawi

Donnie Mategula et al. Open Forum Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Malawi is among 7 countries participating in the Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) Shigella surveillance study, which aims to determine the incidence of medically attended diarrhea attributed to Shigella, a leading bacterial cause of diarrhea in children in low-resource settings.

Methods: We describe the EFGH study site in the densely populated informal settlement of Ndirande Township, Blantyre, Malawi. We explore the site's geographical location, demographic characteristics, and the healthcare-seeking behavior of its population, particularly for childhood diarrhea. We also describe the management of childhood diarrhea at the health facility, and the associated challenges to attaining optimum adherence to local and national guidelines at the site.

Conclusions: Our overarching aim is to improve global health through understanding and mitigating the impact of diarrhea attributed to Shigella.

Keywords: Malawi; Shigella; diarrhea; health care-seeking behavior; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of Malawi.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Malawi coverage estimates of most vaccines (1980–2020). Abbreviations: IPV, inactivated polio vaccine; MCV, measles containing vaccine; PCV, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; Penta, pentavalent; Pol, polio vaccine 3; RotaC, rota virus conjugate vaccine.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Map showing Ndirande Health Centre catchment area and age distribution.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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