Schistosomiasis in Formal and Non-Formal Schools in Uganda: Implications for Control Programmes

Official Title: “Schistosomiasis in Formal and Non-Formal Schools in Uganda: Implications for Control”

Current efforts to control schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthes infections focus on the school-age population, and school-based treatment delivery programs offer a major cost advantages because of the use of the existing school infrastructure and the fact that schoolchildren are accessible through schools. However, in many developing countries, large numbers of school-age children are not in school and this has raised questions about the effectiveness of school-based programs in reaching non-enrolled children. Increasingly, the non-formal education sector is providing a growing solution to the problem of poor enrolment in basic education, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and has recently been used to deliver praziquantel as part of a national schistosomiasis control program in Uganda. However, it is unclear how effective this program has been in reaching children who attend non-formal schools and whether the program has been reaching children from the poorest households.

This study will compare infection and nutritional status of children enrolled in formal schools and non-formal schools, and non-enrolled children in Nakasongola District in Uganda, and investigate the process and impact of treatment delivered by the national control program. The study will consist of household surveys and cross-sectional parasitological and hematological surveys, with follow-up six months later. The evaluation will take place over the course of a year and will: - Compare the infection and nutritional status of children enrolled in formal schools and non-formal schools, and non-enrolled children in Nakasongola District, Uganda - Compare programmatic process indicators, including enrolment rates, attendance rates, access to water and sanitation, treatment coverage in formal and non-formal schools - Investigate the impact of treatment on intensity of infection and reinfection rates in formal and non-formal schools.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• : 2
  • children enrolled in formal schools and children not enrolled in formal schools

Inclusion Criteria:

• School children in grad 1 and 2

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 6 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 18 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Lead Investigator: DBL -Institute for Health Research and Development Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Narcis Kabatereine, Dr Principal Investigator Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health Uganda  

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00463593

Study ID Number: SRP-UG-NK-06

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00463593

Health Authority: Uganda: Ministry of Health