The Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Rwanda: A Scoping Review.

Background And Aims: Rwanda is among the African countries affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This scoping review aims to synthesize available information to understand the prevalence, incidence, distribution, morbidity, mortality, and risk factors of NTDs in Rwanda.

Methods: Between February and March 2024, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases and grey literature for NTDs articles published between January 1, 1980 and January 31, 2024.

Village and age based precision mapping of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Chevakadzi ward of Shamva district in Zimbabwe.

Schistosomiasis is earmarked for elimination as a public health problem, while morbidity control is a priority for soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) by 2030. To develop targeted interventions for the two diseases, micro-mapping and an understanding of disease transmission dynamics across different age groups are necessary. This study determined the age-stratified and ward-level prevalence of schistosomiasis and STH in Chevakadzi ward, Shamva district, Mashonaland Central province, Zimbabwe.

Understanding the Feasibility to Implement Schistosomiasis Elimination Project Under China-Zimbabwe Cooperation: A Pilot Study Protocol.

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the major neglected tropical diseases in Africa, accounting for approximately 90% of the global burden. In Zimbabwe, Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infections are endemic.

Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare programs in Zimbabwe: a mixed methods study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare services. Understanding similar epidemic-related disruptions on a broader scope in our local setting is critical for the effective planning of essential services. The study determined the impact of Coronavirus disease(COVID-19) on healthcare programs in Zimbabwe.

Priority knowledge gaps for schistosomiasis research and development in the World Health Organization Africa Region.

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a widespread neglected tropical disease (NTD) in Africa, with more significant research and development (R&D) challenges and gaps compared to other preventive chemotherapy NTDs (PC-NTDs) like onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and trachoma. In response to this challenge, some global initiatives have advocated for bridging this gap, focusing on coordinated engagement with research donors. In this opinion article we highlight key R&D priorities for combating schistosomiasis in the WHO Africa region.

Barriers and enhancers to COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in Zimbabwe.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is crucial for healthcare workers (HCWs). Understanding their vaccine uptake and perceptions is vital to promote acceptance.

Aim: This study assessed COVID-19 vaccine uptake, associated factors and HCW willingness to recommend vaccination in Zimbabwe.

Real-world COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in Zimbabwe: A test-negative case-control study.

Background: COVID-19 vaccination is critical in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce the disease burden. This study assessed real-world vaccine effectiveness (VE) in Zimbabwe.

Aim: To determine COVID-19 VE and factors associated with disease severity and mortality in Zimbabwe.

Shrinking the lymphatic filariasis map of Zimbabwe: Reassessing the population requiring treatment through confirmatory mapping.

Objectives: Zimbabwe is endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF) with 39 districts identified for mass drug administration (MDA) in 2014. The objective of this study was to reassess the current population requiring MDA.

Methods: The LF confirmatory mapping method was used to evaluate the prevalence of circulating filarial antigens among school-aged children (9-14 years) in previously endemic districts.

African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease with a complex transmission mechanism, requiring a snail intermediate host, is influenced by biology, the environment, human behavior and the prevailing socioeconomic situation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the importance and feasibility of indicators related to the factors influencing transmission and intervention measures for and . Based on a literature review and group discussions according to the Delphi method, a framework questionnaire was designed.

Malaria Severity in the Elimination Continuum: A Retrospective Cohort Study between Beitbridge and Lupane Districts in Zimbabwe, 2021-2023.

Malaria has created a resurgence crisis in Zimbabwe's elimination continuum, diverging from global commitment to malaria elimination by 2030. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with severe malaria in the Beitbridge and Lupane districts. Multistage sampling was used to recruit 2414 individuals recorded in the District Health Information Software2 Tracker database.

Schistosomiasis transmission in Zimbabwe: Modelling based on machine learning.

Zimbabwe, located in Southern Africa, faces a significant public health challenge due to schistosomiasis. We investigated this issue with emphasis on risk prediction of schistosomiasis for the entire population. To this end, we reviewed available data on schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe from a literature search covering the 1980-2022 period considering the potential impact of 26 environmental and socioeconomic variables obtained from public sources.

Understanding facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in the Zimbabwean population: a qualitative analysis.

Background: Vaccines are effective biological interventions that reduce health burdens. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were concerns about varying levels of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the Zimbabwean population. This study aimed to understand facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the Zimbabwean population.

Factors affecting hand hygiene practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Zimbabwean population: a qualitative study.

Background: Practicing hand hygiene is recommended as one of the key preventive measures for reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious agents. However, it is often not practiced frequently enough or correctly by the public. We aimed to identify barriers to and facilitators of hand hygiene in the Zimbabwean population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spiritual and religious aspects influence mental health and viral load: a quantitative study among young people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.

Introduction: The role of religion and spirituality as social determinants of health has been widely discussed. Studies among people living with HIV describe positive and negative influences of religion and spirituality on health outcomes. With a HIV prevalence of 14.

Review of 2022 WHO guidelines on the control and elimination of schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is a helminthiasis infecting approximately 250 million people worldwide. In 2001, the World Health Assembly (WHA) 54.19 resolution defined a new global strategy for control of schistosomiasis through preventive chemotherapy programmes.

Who is paid in pay-for-performance? Inequalities in the distribution of financial bonuses amongst health centres in Zimbabwe.

Although pay-for-performance (P4P) schemes have been implemented across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), little is known about their distributional consequences. A key concern is that financial bonuses are primarily captured by providers who are already better able to perform (for example, those in wealthier areas), P4P could exacerbate existing inequalities within the health system. We examine inequalities in the distribution of pay-outs in Zimbabwe's national P4P scheme (2014-2016) using quantitative data on bonus payments and facility characteristics and findings from a thematic policy review and 28 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders at all system levels.

Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on schistosomiasis among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study.

Background: Over the past 20 years, schistosomiasis control has been scaled up. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is the main intervention. We aimed to assess the effect of preventive chemotherapy on schistosomiasis prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, comparing 2000-10 with 2011-14 and 2015-19.

Detecting Plasmodium falciparum in community surveys: a comparison of Paracheck Pf® Test and ICT Malaria Pf® Cassette Test to polymerase chain reaction in Mutasa District, Zimbabwe.

Background: Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are the main techniques used to diagnose malaria. While microscopy is considered the gold standard, RDTs have established popularity as they allow for rapid diagnosis with minimal technical skills. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of two Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2)-based RDTs (Paracheck Pf® Test (Paracheck) and Malaria Pf™ ICT (ICT)) to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a community survey.

Elimination of STH morbidity in Zimbabwe: Results of 6 years of deworming intervention for school-age children.

This paper reports the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections measured in Zimbabwe before and after a control intervention based on annual deworming of school-age children (SAC) conducted from 2012 to 2018. In 2010, epidemiological data were collected from 13 195 SAC in 255 randomly selected schools in all districts nationwide using, as diagnostic methods, the Kato-Katz and the formal ether stool concentration technique. At follow up, conducted in 2017, only Kato-Katz was performed; specimens were collected from 13 352 children in 336 schools.

Accuracy of different diagnostic techniques for Schistosoma haematobium to estimate treatment needs in Zimbabwe: Application of a hierarchical Bayesian egg count model.

Background: Treatment needs for Schistosoma haematobium are commonly evaluated using urine filtration with detection of parasite eggs under a microscope. A common symptom of S. haematobium is hematuria, the passing of blood in urine.

Steep Rebound of Chloroquine-Sensitive Plasmodium falciparum in Zimbabwe.

Removal of chloroquine from national malaria formularies can lead to the reversion of resistant Plasmodium falciparum to wild-type. We report a steep decline in chloroquine-resistant P falciparum within 10 years of national discontinuation of chloroquine monotherapy in Zimbabwe. Drug resistance surveillance is a vital component of malaria control programs, and the experience with chloroquine in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa is illustrative of the potentially rapid and dramatic impact of drug policy on antimalarial resistance.