ArticleBMC public health2016
Detecting and staging podoconiosis cases in North West Cameroon: positive predictive value of clinical screening of patients by community health workers and researchers.
Article in BMC public health, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Global epidemiology of podoconiosis: A systematic review.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2018Pooled it
- Genetic, Immunological, and Public Health Perspectives on Podoconiosis.Journal of tropical medicine · 2025Review
- Tropical leg lymphedema caused by podoconiosis is associated with increased colonisation by anaerobic bacteria.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Phenotypical characterization, and antibiotics susceptibility patterns of skin bacteria found in podoconiosis patients in the North West Region of Cameroon.BMC microbiology · 2023Article
- Epidemiology of podoconiosis in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.SAGE open medicine · 2023Review
- Developing and validating a clinical algorithm for the diagnosis of podoconiosis.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2020Article
- Linking soils and human health: geospatial analysis of ground-sampled soil data in relation to community-level podoconiosis data in North West Cameroon.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2020Article
- Podoconiosis in Rwanda: Knowledge, attitudes and practices among health professionals and environmental officers.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2020Article
- Mapping of lymphatic filariasis in loiasis areas: A new strategy shows no evidence for Wuchereria bancrofti endemicity in Cameroon.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2019Article
- Community based cross sectional study of podoconiosis and associated factors in Dano district, Central Ethiopia.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2019Article
- Study of lymphoedema of non-filarial origin in the northwest region of Cameroon: spatial distribution, profiling of cases and socio-economic aspects of podoconiosis.International health · 2018Article
- Pragmatism in practice: lessons learned during screening and enrollment for a randomised controlled trial in rural northern Ethiopia.BMC medical research methodology · 2018Article
- Predicted distribution and burden of podoconiosis in Cameroon.BMJ global health · 2018Article
- Mapping the geographical distribution of podoconiosis in Cameroon using parasitological, serological, and clinical evidence to exclude other causes of lymphedema.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2018Article
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13 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThe suitability of using clinical assessment to identify patients with podoconiosis in endemic communities has previously been demonstrated. In this study, we explored the feasibility and accuracy of using Community Health Implementers (CHIs) for the large scale clinical screening of the population for podoconiosis in North-west Cameroon.
methodsBefore a regional podoconiosis mapping, 193 CHIs and 50 health personnel selected from 6 health districts were trained in the clinical diagnosis of the disease. After training, CHIs undertook community screening for podoconiosis patients under health personnel supervision. Identified cases were later re-examined by a research team with experience in the clinical identification of podoconiosis.
resultsCases were identified by CHIs with an overall positive predictive value (PPV) of 48.5% [34.1-70%]. They were more accurate in detecting advanced stages of the disease compared to early stages; OR 2.07, 95% CI = 1.15-3.73, p = 0.015 for all advanced stages). Accuracy of detecting cases showed statistically significant differences among health districts (χ2 = 25.30, p = 0.0001).
conclusionPodoconiosis being a stigmatized disease, the use of CHIs who are familiar to the community appears appropriate for identifying cases through clinical diagnosis. However, to improve their effectiveness and accuracy, more training, supervision and support are required. More emphasis must be given in identifying early clinical stages and in health districts with relatively lower PPVs.
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