Projects
Operational research to develop an M&E strategy to guide triple drug stopping decisions for lymphatic filariasis in Samoa
- What is the indicator(s) and accompanying M&E strategy that enables country programs to determine when the risk of ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis (LF) has been reduced so that triple drug therapy with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazoe (IDA) can be stopped with little risk of resurgence of transmission?
- To develop an M&E strategy that enables Samoa’s LF elimination program to determine when the risk of ongoing transmission of LF has been reduced so that IDA can be stopped with little risk of resurgence of transmission
- What is the effectiveness of appropriately dosed IDA in clearing Mf from Mf positive people who (i) reported taking IDA in August 2018, and (ii) did not report recently taking IDA?
Operational research to develop an M&E strategy to guide triple drug stopping decisions for lymphatic filariasis in Kenya
- What is the indicator(s) and accompanying M&E strategy that enables country programs to determine when the risk of ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis has been reduced so that triple drug therapy with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole (IDA) can be stopped with little risk of resurgence of transmission?
- Can the use of a tailored social mobilization package be used to strengthen community and health system participation and achieve >80% coverage for IDA in Kenya?
Does infection data add evidence to understanding of trachoma prevalence in low endemic areas?
To investigate the utility of an antibody test as a tool for surveillance during the elimination phase of trachoma programmes
Development of a geostatistical mapping tool to improve decision-making for Loa loa and LF
Can serological markers for NTDs (particularly Loa loa and Lymphatic filariasis) be incorporated into geostatistical maps and used to guide program decisions around treatment and surveillance?
Development of Tools to Re-Orient Social Mobilization Strategies to Close the MDA Coverage-Compliance Gap
To improve compliance and reduce the coverage-compliance gap in mass drug administration through enhanced and tailored social mobilization.
Equitable access to Mass Drug Administration for trachoma elimination: an ethnographic study to understand factors associated with low coverage in Kenya and Tanzania
Main objectives are firstly to identify and understand better the factors behind low and unequal MDA coverage and compliance in trachoma endemic areas in Tanzania and Kenya with nomadic populations, secondly to prioritize factors in terms of amenability to intervention. The researcher will then use the evidence generated to design specific interventions that could improve the reach and impact of campaigns of Zithromax MDA in both countries. While there are contextual differences between nomadic societies throughout Africa, research among the Masai in Tanzania and Kenya should inform programme services in other settings with nomadic populations. Particular attention will be given to gender-sensitivity; that is, interventions that will improve access and use by women as well as men.
Improving Access to Mass Drug Administration for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination using a Participatory Approach among Communities of Coastal Kenya
To assess the socio-economic factors contributing to low access to MDA, to identify the existing health services opportunities and other outlets specific to various socio-economic groups that could be used for improving access to MDA, and to develop feasible field-applicable strategies that can be used to reach groups with consistently low access to MDA.
Lymphatic filariasis positive-case follow-up after TAS 2 or TAS 3 in Philippines
To identify the sampling strategy for positive case follow-up after TAS 2 and TAS 3 that optimizes the chances of correctly identifying evidence of ongoing transmission, while saving program resources.