In 2000, the American Samoa Department of Health initiated a campaign of annual mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) to eliminate transmission of filariasis. Drug coverage was well below prescribed targets in the first three campaigns, ranging from 24 to 52% of the total population. Evaluation findings from a variety of formative research methods identified opportunities to improve MDA coverage and ensuing program modifications resulted in increased drug coverage of 65-71% in the following four annual distributions. Partnering with churches for drug distribution and using multiple media channels for health promotion led to sustained program improvements. With the increased emphasis on the use of mass distribution for delivery of drugs for a number of neglected tropical diseases, other programs may benefit from a similar approach.
BT - Acta tropica C1 -http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20932818?dopt=Abstract
DO - 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.08.021 J2 - Acta Trop. LA - eng N2 -In 2000, the American Samoa Department of Health initiated a campaign of annual mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) to eliminate transmission of filariasis. Drug coverage was well below prescribed targets in the first three campaigns, ranging from 24 to 52% of the total population. Evaluation findings from a variety of formative research methods identified opportunities to improve MDA coverage and ensuing program modifications resulted in increased drug coverage of 65-71% in the following four annual distributions. Partnering with churches for drug distribution and using multiple media channels for health promotion led to sustained program improvements. With the increased emphasis on the use of mass distribution for delivery of drugs for a number of neglected tropical diseases, other programs may benefit from a similar approach.
PY - 2011 SP - S48 EP - 54 T2 - Acta tropica TI - Improving community participation to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in American Samoa. UR - http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0001706X1000241X/1-s2.0-S0001706X1000241X-main.pdf?_tid=d8e338de-69e4-11e6-b3f2-00000aab0f26&acdnat=1472034409_d6e2115e9ad565bcd3fef674f5afa49c VL - 120 Suppl 1 SN - 1873-6254 ER -