03310nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001653003100042653001700073653002000090653003900110653001200149100001300161700001100174700001400185700001100199700001400210700001300224700001400237700001500251700001200266245014000278856008100418300000800499490000600507520249300513022001403006       2011                            d10aSoil-transmitted helminths10aSierra Leone10aschistosomiasis10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aMapping1 aHodges M1 aDada N1 aWamsley A1 aPaye J1 aNyorkor E1 aSonnie M1 aBarnish G1 aBockarie M1 aZhang Y00aImproved mapping strategy to better inform policy on the control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Sierra Leone.  uhttp://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-3305-4-97  a7 p0 v43 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are endemic in Sierra Leone confirmed by national mapping in 2008. To better inform planning of preventive chemotherapy strategy, another survey was conducted before mass drug administration (MDA) in seven districts according to the mapping results or local knowledge. Fifty-nine chiefdoms and one school in every chiefdom were selected. Thirty school children aged 9-14 years from each school (total: 1760) were examined by parasitological methods for infection with Schistosoma mansoni and STHs.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 40.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 37.9-42.5%), particularly in Kailahun (63.3%), Kenema (46.7%), Koinadugu (41.9%) and Kono (71.7%). The results demonstrated the focal distribution of S. mansoni in Bo, Tonkolili and Bombali districts with prevalence ranging from 0.0-63.3%, 3.3-90.0% and 0.0-67.9% respectively. The arithmetic mean intensity of S. mansoni infection was 95.4 epg (95% CI: 61.4-129.5 epg), Heavy mean intensity of infection was found in Kailahun (120.2 epg), Kenema (104.5 epg), Koinadugu (112.3 epg) and Kono (250.3 epg). Heavy or moderate infection with S. mansoni occurred in 20.7% of children examined. Hookworm prevalence was moderate: 31.2% (95% CI: 29.1-33.4%), but high in Bo (50.0%) and Tonkolili (56.7%). Hookworm intensity of infection was light with a mean epg of 53.0 (95% CI: 38.4-67.7 epg). Prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides (1.5%, 17.8 epg) and Trichuris trichiura (2.5%, 20.3 epg) was low.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The prediction by previous spatial analysis that S. mansoni was highly endemic across north-eastern Sierra Leone was confirmed with a significant proportion of children heavily or moderately infected. The distribution of S. mansoni in Bo, Tonkolili and Bombali districts ranged widely, highlighting the importance of considering the nature of focal transmission in national mapping exercises. These results were used to refine the MDA for schistosomiasis control to chiefdom implementation units rather than the entire district in these 3 districts. The survey demonstrated that sufficient number of survey sites for schistosomiasis mapping in each district should be used to provide a better national planning of MDA activities, and that it is affordable with the contributions from all parties involved and national resources mobilized.</p>
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