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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Schistosomiasis Helminthiasis Infections Parasitic Diseases Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis Trematode Infections Vector Borne Diseases

Age range

6 year–15 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

The Navrongo Health Research Centre

Navrongo, Ghana

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Children between 6 and 15 years of age

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

DBL -Institute for Health Research and Development

Other

Registry information

Official study 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

Important dates

Study start: 2006
Study completion: 2007
First posted: Apr 20, 2007
Registry last updated: Apr 20, 2007

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed