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Enabling targeted mass drug administration for schistosomiasis in north-western Tanzania

Exploring the use of geostatistical modeling to inform planning at sub-district level

Authors
Jake D. Mathewson, Linda van der Spek, Humphrey D. Mazigo, George Kabona, Sake J. de Vlas, Andreas Nshala, Ente J. J. Rood
Publication year
2024

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease in Tanzania affecting over 50% of the population. Current control strategies involve mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns at the district level, which have led to problems of over- and under-treatment in different areas.

WHO guidelines have called for more targeted MDA to circumvent these problems, however a scarcity of prevalence data inhibits decision makers from prioritizing sub-district areas for MDA. This study demonstrated how geostatistics can be used to inform planning for targeted MDA.

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