Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34711278›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2021

Factors influencing mass drug administration adherence and community drug distributor opportunity costs in Liberia: a mixed-methods approach.

Efundem Agboraw, Fred Sosu, Laura Dean, Alice Siakeh, Rachael Thomson, Karsor Kollie, Eve Worrall

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed
6.3field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

14 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Efundem AgborawDepartment of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK. efundem.agboraw@lstmed.ac.uk.
Fred SosuUniversity of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (UL-PIRE), Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia.
Laura DeanDepartment of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK.
Alice SiakehUniversity of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (UL-PIRE), Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia.
Rachael ThomsonDepartment of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK.
Karsor KollieMinistry of Health, SKD Boulevard, Monrovia, Liberia.
Eve WorrallDepartment of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK.
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine · GBUniversity of Liberia · LR

Funding

Office of UKAID within the UK Foreign Office, DFID award ID PO 6407. PO 6047
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPreventive chemotherapy delivered via mass drug administration (MDA) is essential for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including lymphatic filariasis (LF), schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis. Successful MDA relies heavily on community drug distributor (CDD) volunteers as the interface between households and the health system. This study sought to document and analyse demand-side (households) and supply-side (health system) factors that affect MDA delivery in Liberia.

methodsWorking in two purposively selected counties, we conducted a household MDA access and adherence survey; a CDD survey to obtain information on direct and opportunity costs associated with MDA work; an observational survey of CDDs; and key informant surveys (KIS) with community-level health workers. Data from the CDD survey and Liberian minimum wage rates were used to calculate the opportunity cost of CDD participation per MDA round. The observational data were used to calculate the time spent on individual household-level tasks and CDD time costs per house visited. KIS data on the organisation and management of the MDA in the communities, and researcher reflections of open-ended survey responses were thematically analysed to identify key demand- and supply-side challenges.

resultsMore respondents were aware of MDA than NTD in both counties. In Bong, 39% (103/261) of respondents reported taking the MDA tablet in the last round, with "not being informed" as the most important reason for non-adherence. In Maryland, 56% (147/263) reported taking MDA with "being absent" at the time of distribution being important for non-adherence. The mean cost per CDD of participating in the MDA round was -$11.90 (median $5.04, range -$169.62 to $30.00), and the mean time per household visited was 17.14 min which equates to a mean opportunity cost of $0.03 to $0.05 per household visited. Thematic analysis identified challenges, including shortages of and delays in medicine availability; CDD frustration over costs; reporting challenges; and household concerns about drug side effects.

conclusionsImproved adherence to MDA and subsequent elimination of NTDs in Liberia would be supported by an improved medicine supply chain, financial compensation for CDDs, improved training, healthcare workforce strengthening, greater community involvement, capacity building, and community awareness.

Indexed as

Medication AdherenceAdultCommunity Health WorkersDelivery of Health CareFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansLiberiaMaleMass Drug AdministrationMiddle AgedNeglected DiseasesAdherenceCDDCommunityLiberiaMDANeglected diseasesOpportunity cost

Identifiers

PMID34711278
PMCPMC8555123
OpenAlexW3208794499

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.