03394nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653002200079653002300101653002200124653004000146100001300186700001400199700001200213700001400225700001600239700001600255700001200271700001300283700001600296700001300312700001400325700001300339700001200352700001300364700001500377700001400392700001200406700001900418245017000437856009800607300001300705490000700718520225700725022001402982       2021                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10amultidisciplinary10apraziquantel (PZQ)10aalbendazole (ALB)10aCoverage Evaluation Sampling Survey1 aLiyew EF1 aChernet M1 aBelay H1 aMaddren R1 aLanderyou T1 aKalahasti S1 aOwer AK1 aMekete K1 aPhillips AE1 aAnjulo U1 aEndrias T1 aTamiru A1 aGidey B1 aMehari Z1 aMengistu B1 aTollera G1 aTasew G1 aPakharukova MY00aCoverage evaluation surveys following soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis mass drug administration in Wolaita Zone of Ethiopia—The Geshiyaro project  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0260722&type=printable  ae02607220 v163 a<p>Introduction The Geshiyaro project aims to break transmission of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis in the Wolaita Zone of Ethiopia through a combination of two interventions: behavior change communication (BCC) for increased water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure use alongside preventive chemotherapy (PC) using albendazole (ALB) and praziquantel (PZQ), targeted to reach 90% treatment coverage. Coverage evaluation surveys (CES) were conducted post-treatment, and the resultant survey coverage was compared to reported administrative coverage. This provided a secondary confirmation of the Geshiyaro project coverages, and is used to monitor the success of each Mass Drug Administration (MDA) round.</p>

<p>Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 woredas (districts) of the Wolaita Zone. All eligible individuals from the selected households were invited for an interview. The study design, sample size, analysis and report writing were conducted according to the World Health Organization (WHO) CES guidelines for PC. Results The study interviewed a total of 3,568 households and 18,875 individuals across 13 woredas in the Wolaita Zone. Overall, the survey coverage across all studied woredas was 81.5% (95% CI; 80.9–82.0%) for both ALB and PZQ. Reported administrative coverage across all studied woredas was higher than survey coverage, 92.7% and 91.2% for ALB and PZQ, respectively. A significant portion of individuals (17.6%) were not offered PC. The predominant reason for not achieving the target coverage of 90% was beneficiary absenteeism during MDA (6.6% ALB, 6.8% PZQ), followed by drug distributors failing to reach all households (4.7% ALB, 4.8% PZQ), and beneficiaries not informed of the program (1.3% ALB, 1.7% PZQ). Conclusion Programmatic actions will need to be taken during the next MDA campaign to achieve the targeted Geshiyaro project coverage threshold across data collection and program engagement. Adequate training and supervision on recording and reporting administrative coverage should be provided, alongside improved social mobilization of treated communities to increase participation, and strengthened institutional partnerships and communication.</p>
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