Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40920825›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Community-directed treatment with ivermectin in Maridi, South Sudan: Impact of an onchocerciasis awareness campaign and bi-annual treatment on therapeutic coverage.

Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Moses Okwii, Stephen Raimon Jada, Amber Hadermann, Jacopo Rovarini, Luis-Jorge Amaral, Rogers Nditanchou, Yak Yak Bol, Makoy Y Logora, Jane Y Carter and 2 more

Abstract read
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Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Joseph Nelson Siewe FodjoGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Moses OkwiiKampala University, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
Stephen Raimon JadaAmref Health Africa, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
Amber HadermannGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jacopo RovariniAmref Health Africa, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
Luis-Jorge AmaralGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Rogers NditanchouGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Yak Yak BolNeglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
Makoy Y LogoraNeglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
Jane Y CarterAmref Health Africa Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Johan WillemsChristoffel-Blindenmission/ Christian Blind Mission e.V. (CBM), Bensheim, Germany.
Robert ColebundersGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.ORCID 0009-0006-0691-3697

Funding

Amref Health AfricaLa Caixa FoundationResearch Foundation–Flanders (FWO)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA high onchocerciasis disease burden and a low coverage of community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) have been observed in many parts of South Sudan. In the Maridi County, CDTI was re-introduced in 2017 and various interventions implemented to improve coverage.

methodsThrough successive community-based surveys, we investigated whether an onchocerciasis awareness campaign and a switch from annual to bi-annual distribution of ivermectin in Maridi County increased CDTI coverage. We also reviewed the evolution of ivermectin distribution in Maridi since 2017 and identified the determinants for ivermectin uptake.

resultsFor past years in Maridi, CDTI programme performance has been highly variable due to security concerns, limited funding, misconceptions about ivermectin, and poor organisation of mass treatment campaigns. Community-based surveys conducted between 2018 and 2024 in Maridi found that upon switching from annual CDTI (2017-2019) to bi-annual CDTI (2021 onward), therapeutic coverage significantly increased from 40.8% in 2017 to 70.3% in 2023. Lower age, male gender, more CDTI information sources, and awareness of a link between onchocerciasis and epilepsy were all associated with increased uptake of ivermectin.

conclusionThis study showed that with reinforced awareness raising accompanying biannual CDTI, a higher ivermectin treatment coverage is achievable. The findings present an opportunity for the health system to advance its onchocerciasis elimination scheme in remote, conflict-stricken communities in South Sudan.

Indexed as

Antiparasitic AgentsIvermectinOnchocerciasisAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleMass Drug AdministrationMiddle AgedSouth SudanSurveys and QuestionnairesAntiparasitic AgentsIvermectin

Identifiers

PMID40920825
PMCPMC12431650

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