Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases in Urban Areas: A Review of Challenges, Strategies and Research Directions for Successful Mass Drug Administration
by
Alayne M. Adams 1,*
, Myriam Vuckovic 1, Eleanor Birch 1, Tara A. Brant 2, Stephanie Bialek 2, Dahye Yoon 1, Joseph Koroma 3, Abdel Direny 4, Joseph Shott 5, Jean Frantz Lemoine 6, Massitan Dembele 7 and Margaret C. Baker 4,*
Alayne M. Adams 1,*, Myriam Vuckovic 1, Eleanor Birch 1, Tara A. Brant 2, Stephanie Bialek 2, Dahye Yoon 1, Joseph Koroma 3, Abdel Direny 4, Joseph Shott 5, Jean Frantz Lemoine 6, Massitan Dembele 7 and Margaret C. Baker 4,*
1
Department of International Health, Georgetown University, Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
3
Family Health International 360 (FHI360) Ghana Country Office, 1st Floor Marvel House 48A Giffard Road, Accra, Ghana
4
RTI International, 701 13th St NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20005, USA
5
Office of Infectious Diseases, Global Health Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20352, USA
6
Institutional affiliation: Ministry of Health and Population, Delmas 60, Rue Lemercier #2, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
7
Ministry of Health Mali, BP: 233, Bamako, Mali
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2018, 3(4), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed3040122
Received: 28 September 2018 / Revised: 6 November 2018 / Accepted: 17 November 2018 / Published: 21 November 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Slum Health: Diseases of Neglected Populations)
Since 1950, the global urban population grew from 746 million to almost 4 billion and is expected to reach 6.4 billion by mid-century. Almost 90% of this increase will take place in Asia and Africa and disproportionately in urban slums. In this context, concerns about the amplification of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are warranted and efforts towards achieving effective mass drug administration (MDA) coverage become even more important. This narrative review considers the published literature on MDA implementation for specific NTDs and in-country experiences under the ENVISION and END in Africa projects to surface features of urban settings that challenge delivery strategies known to work in rural areas. Discussed under the thematics of governance, population heterogeneity, mobility and community trust in MDA, these features include weak public health infrastructure and programs, challenges related to engaging diverse and dynamic populations and the limited accessibility of certain urban settings such as slums. Although the core components of MDA programs for NTDs in urban settings are similar to those in rural areas, their delivery may need adjustment. Effective coverage of MDA in diverse urban populations can be supported by tailored approaches informed by mapping studies, research that identifies context-specific methods to increase MDA coverage and rigorous monitoring and evaluation.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Adams, A.M.; Vuckovic, M.; Birch, E.; Brant, T.A.; Bialek, S.; Yoon, D.; Koroma, J.; Direny, A.; Shott, J.; Lemoine, J.F.; Dembele, M.; Baker, M.C. Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases in Urban Areas: A Review of Challenges, Strategies and Research Directions for Successful Mass Drug Administration. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2018, 3, 122.
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