Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41636721›Full record

ArticleInternational health2026

Onchocerciasis elimination mapping in Malawi: mapping of vector Simulium breeding sites using an integrated approach of community knowledge and topographical maps.

Kareen Atekem, Laston Sitima, Dylo Pemba, Adoum M Oumar, Ben Isake, Steven Gowelo, Chinsisi Chipatso, Kondwani Muheka, Franklin Ayisi, Lassane Koala and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in International health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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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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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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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

16 authors.

Kareen AtekemDepartment of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, PA, USA.
Laston SitimaMalawi Onchocerciasis Control Program, Ministry of Health, Malawi.
Dylo PembaVector and Disease Control Centre, Zomba City, Malawi.
Adoum M OumarMinistère de la Santé Publique et de la Prevention, B.P. 700, N'Djamena Tchad.
Ben IsakeVector and Disease Control Centre, Zomba City, Malawi.
Steven GoweloMalaria Elimination Initiative, University of California, San Francisco.
Chinsisi ChipatsoVector and Disease Control Centre, Zomba City, Malawi.
Kondwani MuhekaVector and Disease Control Centre, Zomba City, Malawi.
Franklin AyisiAfrican Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), University of Ghana, PMB LG 59 Legon, Accra, Ghana.ORCID 0009-0002-6629-1472
Lassane KoalaCentre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST)/ Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Département Biomédical et Santé Publique, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest, Burkina Faso.
Olabanji SurakatDepartment of Zoology, Osun State University, BP. 4494, Osogbo, Nigeria.ORCID 0000-0002-2382-3857
Arwa ElaagipDepartment of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, BP. 11111, Khartoum, Sudan.
Dziedzom K de SouzaDepartment of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana.
Anne HeggenThe END Fund, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1701-5746
Charles D MackenzieThe END Fund, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4628-8188
Daniel A BoakyeDepartment of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1193778Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLarge areas in Malawi have not been treated for onchocerciasis. To understand whether to provide treatment in these areas of unknown onchocerciasis endemicity, the Malawi Onchocerciasis Control Program conducted identification and mapping of breeding sites as a prerequisite for onchocerciasis elimination mapping (OEM).

methodsThe team employed a community knowledge approach using questionnaires and discussions, alongside the standard method of using topographical maps, to plan and implement river prospections for Simulium vector breeding sites.

resultsA total of 188 sites were prospected from 180 rivers, with 122 sites (67.8%) identified from community information and 58 (32.2%) from topographic maps. Of the 188 sites visited, 30 were positive for Simulium damnosum larvae/pupae and 91 were considered potential breeding sites and need to be visited in a different season for confirmation. A breeding site map for OEM areas was developed. Prospection using this approach lasted for 24 days (approximately eight rivers/day) compared with a previous prospection with the same team that used 12 days to prospect 25 rivers (approximately two rivers/day).

conclusionThis demonstrates the potential of using the health system structure and community knowledge for breeding site surveys, shortening the prospection time while effectively identifying fast-flowing rivers and breeding sites.

Indexed as

Insect VectorsOnchocerciasisSimuliidaeAnimalsBreedingHumansMalawiRiversbreeding site mappingcommunity knowledgeMalawionchocerciasis elimination mapping (OEM)

Identifiers

PMID41636721
PMCPMC13223578

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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.