Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40920866›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Geostatistical analysis to guide treatment decisions for soil-transmitted helminthiasis control in Uganda.

Bryan O Nyawanda, Kristin M Sullivan, Benjamin Tinkitina, Prudence Beinamaryo, Betty Nabatte, Hilda Kyarisiima, Alfred Mubangizi, Paul M Emerson, Jürg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

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.

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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

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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.

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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

10 authors.

Bryan O NyawandaSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Kristin M SullivanChildren Without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America.
Benjamin TinkitinaVector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Prudence BeinamaryoVector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Betty NabatteVector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Hilda KyarisiimaVector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Alfred MubangiziVector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Paul M EmersonChildren Without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America.
Jürg UtzingerSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Penelope VounatsouSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-4904-5352

Funding

Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America)Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Disease Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSoil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a public health problem in Uganda despite biannual national deworming campaigns implemented since the early 2000s. Recent surveys have indicated a heterogeneous STH infection prevalence, suggesting that the current blanket deworming strategy may no longer be cost-effective. This study identified infection predictors, estimated the geographic distribution of STH infection prevalence by species, and calculated deworming needs for school-age children (SAC). METHODOLOGY: Bayesian geostatistical models were applied to STH survey data (2021-2023) for each species (i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura). Climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic predictors were obtained from remote sensing sources, model-based databases, and demographic and health surveys. Prevalence was predicted on a 1 × 1 km2 grid across Uganda, and district-level estimates were used to classify each district into treatment frequency categories and to determine its deworming tablet requirements. PRINCIPAL

findingsThe national prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm was estimated at 5.0% (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI]: 0.8-11.8%), 3.5% (0.7-9.3%), and 7.2% (5.7-11.1%), respectively. The overall prevalence of any STH infection was 14.3% (9.6-21.8%). High intra-district variation in prevalence was observed. Of 146 implementation units (136 districts and 10 cities), 49 require twice-year treatment, 34 once-yearly treatment, 61 every other year treatment, and 2 had a prevalence <2%, indicating treatment suspension or event-based treatment. Approximately 17 million tablets will be needed for preventive chemotherapy aimed at SAC in 2025. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of STH infection has declined considerably across Uganda compared to the early 2000s. However, deworming needs remain heterogeneous across districts. Through geostatistical modeling, districts were classified according to the latest World Health Organization's (WHO) treatment guidelines. This approach optimizes treatment distribution and allows for prioritization of populations with the greatest needs. We estimated that tablet requirements are approximately 40% lower compared to the current twice-a-year deworming regimen, which contributes towards WHO's goal of halving the number of tablets required for preventive chemotherapy by 2030.

Indexed as

AnthelminticsHelminthiasisSoilAdolescentAnimalsAscaris lumbricoidesBayes TheoremChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHookworm InfectionsHumansMalePrevalenceTrichuriasisTrichurisAnthelminticsSoil

Identifiers

PMID40920866
PMCPMC12453197

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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.