Using Community-Based Volunteers to Reach Non-Enrolled School Aged Children Through Community-Directed Treatment of Schistosomiasis in School-Aged Children in Rural Northern Ghana
Information source: DBL -Institute for Health Research and Development
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on June 20, 2008
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Schistosomiasis; Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis
Phase: N/A
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: DBL -Institute for Health Research and Development Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Francis Anto, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana
Summary
Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminhtiasis occur throughout the developing world and
are most prevalent in the poorest communitites. These worms have been linked to several
nutritional and intellectual deficiencies in many endemic populations worldwide. Helminth
control, though crucial has been neglected for varied reasons. Currently, interests towards
the control of neglected diseases including schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths
has been revived through many interventions including repeated chemotherapy to help improve
public health outcomes and prevent long term morbidity. This will contribute to achieving
several of the Millennium Development Goals at a favourable cost. A community-directed
treatment of human schistosomiasis and STH in school-aged children in rural notrhern Ghana
using praziquantel and albendazole is proposed. It is planned to test the hypothesis that
community-based volunteers are non-inferior and more cost effective than rural school
teachers at reaching school-aged children.
Clinical Details
Official title: Using Community-Based Volunteers to Reach Non-Enrolled School-Aged Children Through Community-Directed Treatment of Schistosomiasis in School-Aged Children in Rural Northern Ghana
Study design: Natural History, Longitudinal, Case Control, Prospective Study
Detailed description:
The primary objectives of the study are:
To compare coverage rate of community based volunteers and rural school teachers in the
distribution of praziquantel and albendazole to scholl-aged children To determine the cost
effectiveness of using community based volunteers to distribute praziquantel and albendazole
to school-aged children in rural Ghana.
Study methods:
A list of all school-aged children (6-15 years) in the study area will be generated from the
Navrongo Demographic Surveillance System database and registers produced and given to all
school teachers and community based volunteers who will be responsible for the distribution
of the antihelminithics. The school teachers and community based volunteers will provide the
drugs to both enrolled and non-enrolled school-aged children. Percentage coverage of
school-aged children will be the outcome measure and compated between the school teachers and
the community based volunteers. Stool and urine samples will be collected from a
representative sample (916) of the children for laboratory analysis before the administration
of the drugs for baseline data. Sample collection and laboratory analysis will be repeated 6
and 12 months after the first round of chemotherapy.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 6 Years.
Maximum age: 15 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children between 6 and 15 years of age
Locations and Contacts
The Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana
Additional Information
Starting date: September 2006
Ending date: January 2007
Last updated: April 19, 2007
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