Considerations and expectations for the administration of dispersible arpraziquantel to young children: a landscape analysis.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a serious public health problem in many African countries and beyond. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is a successful public health intervention that is recommended for all communities at risk, commonly reached through large-scale mass drug administration campaigns. However, preschool-age children are currently not routinely targeted for treatment due to operational challenges related to dosing and administration with the standard drug formulation. In response to the need for a suitable, child-friendly treatment, the multistakeholder Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium has developed a novel dispersible tablet with improved taste and smaller size. To prepare the introduction and inform future uptake of the novel paediatric formulation in endemic countries, we conducted a landscape analysis to explore perspectives, opinions and experiences of key stakeholders on operational and practical issues in relation to drug dosing and administration. Our findings confirm that child-friendly drug formulations mitigate several operational constraints related to the dosing and administration in young children. The introduction of this novel child health intervention into routine platforms and programs requires solid training and careful communication by engaging with communities, caregivers, healthcare workers and decision-makers to ensure acceptance and future uptake of treatment.