03003nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653001300081653004300094100001600137700001200153700001300165700001400178700001600192700001500208700001100223700001000234700001600244700001300260700001400273700001200287700001400299700001600313700001300329700001200342700001400354700001300368700001300381700001400394245008100408856009800489300001300587490000700600520198400607022001402591       2017                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aTrachoma10aGlobal Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP)1 aTrotignon G1 aJones E1 aEngels T1 aSchmidt E1 aMcFarland D1 aMacleod CK1 aAmer K1 aBio A1 aBakhtiari A1 aBovill S1 aDoherty A1 aKhan AA1 aMbofana M1 aMcCullagh S1 aMillar T1 aMwale C1 aRotondo L1 aWeaver A1 aWillis R1 aSolomon A00aThe cost of mapping trachoma: Data from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.  uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0006023&type=printable  ae00060230 v113 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>The Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) was implemented with the aim of completing the baseline map of trachoma globally. Over 2.6 million people were examined in 1,546 districts across 29 countries between December 2012 and January 2016. The aim of the analysis was to estimate the unit cost and to identify the key cost drivers of trachoma prevalence surveys conducted as part of GTMP.</p>

<p><strong>METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: </strong>In-country and global support costs were obtained using GTMP financial records. In-country expenditure was analysed for 1,164 districts across 17 countries. The mean survey cost was $13,113 per district [median: $11,675; IQR = $8,365-$14,618], $17,566 per evaluation unit [median: $15,839; IQR = $10,773-$19,915], $692 per cluster [median: $625; IQR = $452-$847] and $6.0 per person screened [median: $4.9; IQR = $3.7-$7.9]. Survey unit costs varied substantially across settings, and were driven by parameters such as geographic location, demographic characteristics, seasonal effects, and local operational constraints. Analysis by activities showed that fieldwork constituted the largest share of in-country survey costs (74%), followed by training of survey teams (11%). The main drivers of in-country survey costs were personnel (49%) and transportation (44%). Global support expenditure for all surveyed districts amounted to $5.1m, which included grant management, epidemiological support, and data stewardship.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>This study provides the most extensive analysis of the cost of conducting trachoma prevalence surveys to date. The findings can aid planning and budgeting for future trachoma surveys required to measure the impact of trachoma elimination activities. Furthermore, the results of this study can also be used as a cost basis for other disease mapping programmes, where disease or context-specific survey cost data are not available.</p>
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