SynthesisPLoS neglected tropical diseases2021
Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections, schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis before and after preventive chemotherapy initiation in the Philippines: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trends in the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection in Ethiopia 2000 to 2023: a systematic review.Parasites & vectors · 2025Pooled it
- Prevalence of schistosomiasis and its association with anemia in Ethiopia, 2024: a systematic review and meta‑analysis.BMC infectious diseases · 2024Pooled it
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination in the Philippines: Challenges and Gaps.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2026Review
- Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Periodic Health Examination: Screening for Infectious Diseases.Acta medica Philippina · 2026Article
- Variability of interobserver interpretation of selected helminth ova in the development of a training image set.International health · 2025Article
- Prevention and control of schistosomiasis in the Philippines from a health education perspective.Frontiers in public health · 2025Review
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis in Sudan: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cureus · 2024Review
- Cost and budget impact of mass drug administration compared to expanded school-based targeted preventive chemotherapy for soil-transmitted helminth control in Zamboanga Peninsula, the Philippines.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2024Article
- Identification of trans-genus biomarkers for early diagnosis of intestinal schistosomiasis and progression of gut pathology in a mouse model using metabolomics.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Risk mapping and socio-ecological drivers of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the Philippines: a spatial modelling study.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2024Article
- Scabies in the Philippines: A Secondary Analysis of Local Patient Registries.Acta medica Philippina · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo estimate the impact of preventive chemotherapy on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis in the Philippines, using systematic review and meta-analysis.
methodsWe included reports reporting prevalence of STH infections, schistosomiasis, or lymphatic filariasis in the Philippines published until 31 March 2021. Peer-reviewed studies were identified in electronic databases. Grey literature reports by the University of the Philippines and the Department of Health were also included. Pooled infection prevalence, before and after the initiation of preventive chemotherapy, stratified by age group, was calculated using the inverse variance heterogeneity model.
findingsA total of 109 reports were included in the review and meta-analysis. Overall prevalence of moderate-heavy intensity Ascaris lumbricoides (6.6%) and Trichuris trichiura (2.7%) infection after initiation of preventive chemotherapy were significantly lower than the prevalence prior to initiation (23.6% for A. lumbricoides and 12.2% for T. trichiura). Prevalence reductions were also found in school and preschool-age children for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. Studies conducted after preventive chemotherapy initiation had significantly lower overall prevalence of moderate-heavy intensity schistosomiasis (3.1% vs 0.2%) and of schistosomiasis in school-age children (30.5% vs 1%). Pooled prevalence of lymphatic filariasis prior to preventive chemotherapy initiation was 3.2% across 12 provinces, while currently only two provinces still have prevalence of more than 1%. There were no published studies reporting prevalence of lymphatic filariasis after initiation of preventive chemotherapy. Heterogeneity was high with I2 mostly above 90%.
conclusionThe burden of STH infections and schistosomiasis in children were significantly lower in studies conducted following the initiation of preventive chemotherapy. Eliminating morbidity and interrupting transmission, however, may require expanded control initiatives including community-wide treatment, and improved water, sanitation, and hygiene. Lymphatic filariasis burden has decreased since the implementation of preventive chemotherapy, with all but two provinces having reached the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.
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