The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review
Background: Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that the WHO has set out to eliminate. To reach this elimination target, a number of challenges must be met, and the essential measures set out in the road map for NTDs 2021–2030 must be implemented. Mor...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Policarpo Ncogo Christine Giesen María Jesús Perteguer Maria P. Rebollo Rufino Nguema Agustín Benito Zaida Herrador |
| author_facet | Policarpo Ncogo Christine Giesen María Jesús Perteguer Maria P. Rebollo Rufino Nguema Agustín Benito Zaida Herrador |
| author_sort | Policarpo Ncogo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that the WHO has set out to eliminate. To reach this elimination target, a number of challenges must be met, and the essential measures set out in the road map for NTDs 2021–2030 must be implemented. More than 99% of infected people live in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective was to assess the impact of onchocerciasis interventions in Africa. Methodology: A systematic peer review of the existing literature following the PRISMA guidelines was performed between November 2021 and April 2022. We selected studies on onchocerciasis control measures in Africa since the implementation of the first Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) measures in 1974. All scientific articles indexed in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CENTRAL databases written in Spanish, English, French, German, and Portuguese were considered. The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Results: A total of 63 articles met the inclusion criteria and were finally selected. Publications were found from 19 out of 31 African endemic countries. The main intervention retained in the different published studies was mass distribution of ivermectin (<i>n</i> = 51). According to our results, 11 African countries have managed to interrupt transmission of onchocerciasis in at least one area in the country; 11 countries have not achieved this goal, while 1 country has managed to eliminate the disease, but it has resurged. Conclusions: Control interventions showed a positive impact on the fight against onchocerciasis, demonstrating that these activities are effective. Nevertheless, they were not sufficient to achieve the proposed goals for a variety of reasons. Therefore, different aspects should be considered in order to fulfil the targets proposed by the WHO to be reached in 2030. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3ad7db43905491d87daea9f96acbd36 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3ad7db43905491d87daea9f96acbd362025-01-24T13:51:21ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662024-12-01101710.3390/tropicalmed10010007The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic ReviewPolicarpo Ncogo0Christine Giesen1María Jesús Perteguer2Maria P. Rebollo3Rufino Nguema4Agustín Benito5Zaida Herrador6Fundación Estatal, Salud, Infancia y Bienestar Social (FCSAI), 28029 Madrid, SpainCentro de Salud Internacional Madrid Salud, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, SpainCentro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, SpainExpanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Disease (ESPEN), WHO World Health Organization—African Region, P.O.Box 06 Brazzaville, CongoMinisterio de Sanidad y Bienestar Social, Balboa Calle Mayor, Malabo QQ2H+8WC, Equatorial GuineaConsorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), 28029 Madrid, SpainCentro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, SpainBackground: Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that the WHO has set out to eliminate. To reach this elimination target, a number of challenges must be met, and the essential measures set out in the road map for NTDs 2021–2030 must be implemented. More than 99% of infected people live in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective was to assess the impact of onchocerciasis interventions in Africa. Methodology: A systematic peer review of the existing literature following the PRISMA guidelines was performed between November 2021 and April 2022. We selected studies on onchocerciasis control measures in Africa since the implementation of the first Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) measures in 1974. All scientific articles indexed in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CENTRAL databases written in Spanish, English, French, German, and Portuguese were considered. The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Results: A total of 63 articles met the inclusion criteria and were finally selected. Publications were found from 19 out of 31 African endemic countries. The main intervention retained in the different published studies was mass distribution of ivermectin (<i>n</i> = 51). According to our results, 11 African countries have managed to interrupt transmission of onchocerciasis in at least one area in the country; 11 countries have not achieved this goal, while 1 country has managed to eliminate the disease, but it has resurged. Conclusions: Control interventions showed a positive impact on the fight against onchocerciasis, demonstrating that these activities are effective. Nevertheless, they were not sufficient to achieve the proposed goals for a variety of reasons. Therefore, different aspects should be considered in order to fulfil the targets proposed by the WHO to be reached in 2030.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/1/7onchocerciasiscontrol measurescommunity directed treatmentAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Policarpo Ncogo Christine Giesen María Jesús Perteguer Maria P. Rebollo Rufino Nguema Agustín Benito Zaida Herrador The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease onchocerciasis control measures community directed treatment Africa |
| title | The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | impact of onchocerciasis elimination measures in africa a systematic review |
| topic | onchocerciasis control measures community directed treatment Africa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/1/7 |
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