Ankeeta Menona Jacob, Jeni Jacob, Wim Peersman, Avinash K Shetty
{"title":"The Content Validity of an Instrument That Measures Health-Seeking Behavior for Tuberculosis among People Living with HIV in India.","authors":"Ankeeta Menona Jacob, Jeni Jacob, Wim Peersman, Avinash K Shetty","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080181","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Determinants of health-seeking behavior among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are important. This study aims to develop and assess the content validity of an instrument that measures health-seeking behavior for tuberculosis among PLHIV in India. An instrument was developed using deductive methods and the Modified Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services (BMHS). We identified three domains using the BMHS. Ten subject experts validated the tool between June 2022 and August 2022. Lawshe's Content Validity Ratios (CVRs) and Scale Content Validity Indices (CVIs) were computed. The items with CVR and CVI values ≥0.62 were considered for the final tool. The health-seeking behavior among PLHIV, based on the BMHS, identified knowledge regarding TB (domain 1), healthcare accessibility and factors leading to delay in treatment-seeking behavior (domain 2), and client satisfaction regarding diagnostic and treatment-seeking behavior (domain 3). Content Validity Ratios (CVRs) of all the items related to domains 1 and 2 were ≥0.62. The Scale Content Validity Indices (for relevance), i.e., S-CVI (average) and S-CVI (proportional relevance), were ≥0.62 for all domains. The items with CVR and CVI values ≥0.62 in the domains were accepted in the final tool, which contained 69 items.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11359263/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative Genomics Revealing the Genomic Characteristics of <i>Klebsiella variicola</i> Clinical Isolates in China.","authors":"Fang Yang, Fei-Yi Liu, Yi-Ming Zhong","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080180","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Klebsiella variicola</i> is an opportunistic pathogen often misidentified as <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, leading to misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatment in clinical settings. The genetic and molecular characteristics of clinically isolated <i>K. variicola</i> remain largely unexplored. We aim to fill this knowledge gap by examining the genomic properties of and evolutionary relationships between clinical isolates of <i>K. variicola</i>. The genomic data of 70 <i>K. variicola</i> strains were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was generated based on the gene sequences from these <i>K. variicola</i> strains and public databases. Among the <i>K. variicola</i> strains, the drug resistance genes with the highest carrying rates were beta-lactamase and aminoglycoside. Locally isolated strains had a higher detection rate for virulence genes than those in public databases, with yersiniabactin genes being the most prevalent. The K locus types and MLST subtypes of the strains exhibited a dispersed distribution, with O3/O3a being the predominant subtype within the O category. In total, 28 isolates carried both IncFIB(K)_Kpn3 and IncFII_pKP91 replicons. This study underscores the importance of developing more effective diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for <i>K. variicola</i> infections. The continued surveillance and monitoring of <i>K. variicola</i> strains is essential for understanding the epidemiology of infections and informing public health strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11359898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Felipe Rocha, Alexander Vargas, Elke Maria Nogueira de Abreu, Julio Cesar Augusto Pompei, Marco Antonio Natal Vigilato, Daniel Magalhães Lima, Raphael Schneider Vianna, Ottorino Cosivi, Sergio E Recuenco, Wagner Augusto Costa, Luciana Hardt, Karin Correa Scheffer Ferreira, Rene Dos Santos Cunha Neto, Luciana Botelho Chaves, Andrea de Cassia Rodrigues da Silva, Alberto Lopes Begot, Jorge Alberto Azevedo Andrade, Weber Marcos, Silene Manrique Rocha, Francisco Edilson Ferreira Lima Junior, Marcelo Yoshito Wada
{"title":"Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Hematophagous Bat-Mediated Rabies Outbreaks in Remote Amazon Communities: Lessons from a Pilot for Public Health Policy.","authors":"Felipe Rocha, Alexander Vargas, Elke Maria Nogueira de Abreu, Julio Cesar Augusto Pompei, Marco Antonio Natal Vigilato, Daniel Magalhães Lima, Raphael Schneider Vianna, Ottorino Cosivi, Sergio E Recuenco, Wagner Augusto Costa, Luciana Hardt, Karin Correa Scheffer Ferreira, Rene Dos Santos Cunha Neto, Luciana Botelho Chaves, Andrea de Cassia Rodrigues da Silva, Alberto Lopes Begot, Jorge Alberto Azevedo Andrade, Weber Marcos, Silene Manrique Rocha, Francisco Edilson Ferreira Lima Junior, Marcelo Yoshito Wada","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080179","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080179","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2018, an outbreak of human rabies caused by the hematophagous bat <i>Desmodus rotundus</i> hit the Brazilian Amazon Basin community of Melgaço, Brazil, resulting in the death of 10 people, 9 of them children. The incidence of rabies has been on the rise among populations in conditions of vulnerability in this ecosystem due to human expansion into sylvatic environments and limited access to public health services. To address this issue, in September 2019, a collaborative effort from national, local, and international institutions promoted and executed a pilot for pre-exposure prophylaxis of a population in high-risk areas for hematophagous bat-mediated rabies. This measure is usually only implemented in response to outbreaks. The pilot was conducted in Portel, in a nearby location to the previous outbreak, with the use of fluvial transportation, and 2987 individuals in 411 dwellings were successfully vaccinated. It established a methodology for pre-exposure prophylaxis for populations in conditions of vulnerability, identifying logistics and costs, as well as characterizing the target riverine population regarding risk factors associated with bites by hematophagous bats. This approach offers a proactive measure to prevent future outbreaks and provides valuable insights into how to address the issue of rabies in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11359154/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marianne E Besson, Michel Pépin, Pierre-Alexandre Metral
{"title":"Lassa Fever: Critical Review and Prospects for Control.","authors":"Marianne E Besson, Michel Pépin, Pierre-Alexandre Metral","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080178","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lassa Fever is a deadly viral haemorrhagic disease, causing annually several hundreds of deaths in West Africa. This zoonotic disease is primarily transmitted to humans by rodents of the genus <i>Mastomys</i>, even though other rodents reportedly carry the Lassa virus, while secondary interhuman transmission accounts for approximately 20% of cases. Although this disease has been endemic in rural zones of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberfia, and Guinea for hundreds of years, it is also characterised by epidemic outbreaks in the dry season, responsible for heavy death tolls. No licensed vaccine or satisfying treatment is currently available. Disease management is hindered by the incomplete knowledge of the epidemiology and distribution of the disease, resulting from an inadequate health and surveillance system. Additional scientific constraints such as the genetic diversity of the virus and the lack of understanding of the mechanisms of immune protection complexify the development of a vaccine. The intricate socio-economic context in the affected regions, and the lack of monetary incentive for drug development, allow the disease to persist in some of West Africa's poorest communities. The increase in the number of reported cases and in the fatality rate, the expansion of the endemic area, as well as the threat Lassa Fever represents internationally should urge the global community to work on the disease control and prevention. The disease control requires collaborative research for medical countermeasures and tailored public health policies. Lassa Fever, created by the interconnection between animals, humans, and ecosystems, and embedded in an intricate social context, should be addressed with a 'One Health' approach. This article provides an overview of Lassa Fever, focusing on Nigeria, and discusses the perspectives for the control of disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11359316/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rafaella P Marques, Waqas Ahmad, Raquel Soares, Katia C Oliveira, Monica C Botelho
{"title":"Insights into the State of the Art of Urogenital Schistosomiasis with a Focus on Infertility.","authors":"Rafaella P Marques, Waqas Ahmad, Raquel Soares, Katia C Oliveira, Monica C Botelho","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080177","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080177","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects developing countries worldwide and is caused by several species of parasites from the <i>Schistosoma</i> genus. Chronic infection is characterized by the formation of granulomas around the parasite eggs, the leading cause of pathology. The hepatosplenic clinical form is one of the most common, but urogenital schistosomiasis is another relevant clinical presentation responsible for infertility in men and women. Inflammatory response, anatomical deformations, and endocrine/biochemical changes are involved in the development of infertility. Schistosome parasites can synthesize catechol estrogen-like molecules and affect the sexual hormone balance in their host. Here, we review many aspects of the pathology of urogenital schistosomiasis, specifically infertility, and point to the biochemical and endocrinal elements that must be investigated in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11360082/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gisèle Badoum, Abdoul R Ouédraogo, Attannon A Fiogbé, Albert Kuate Kuate, Alphazazi Soumana, Yacine Mar Diop, Mohammed F Dogo, Olivia B Mbitikon, Adjima Combary, Gildas Agodokpessi, Dissou Affolabi, Annie Bisso, Dona R Atimbada, Sonia Menon, Kobto G Koura
{"title":"An Overview of the Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Six French-Speaking African Countries from 2018 to 2022.","authors":"Gisèle Badoum, Abdoul R Ouédraogo, Attannon A Fiogbé, Albert Kuate Kuate, Alphazazi Soumana, Yacine Mar Diop, Mohammed F Dogo, Olivia B Mbitikon, Adjima Combary, Gildas Agodokpessi, Dissou Affolabi, Annie Bisso, Dona R Atimbada, Sonia Menon, Kobto G Koura","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080176","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. The prevalence and management of DR-TB in African countries require comprehensive strategies to improve patient outcomes and control the spread of the disease. Aggregated routine data (from 2018 to 2022) on multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) were collected from the National TB Programs (NTPs) from all six countries. The diagnostic capacity for MDR-TB was globally insufficient. The system for collecting and transporting samples was sometimes inoperative. A total of 2353 cases of MDR-TB were reported, with 86.4% receiving treatment. The gap between the expected number of MDR-TB cases and the number reported per country varied from 51.5% to 88.0%, depending on the year. Fifty-two extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB cases received treatment regimens over five years, with variations across countries. All patients received free follow-up examinations, nutritional and financial support for travel expenses to the outpatient care and treatment centers. The MDR-TB treatment success rates for all regimens between 2018 and 2021 ranged from 44.4 to 90.9%, varying by country and year. The information system relied on primary tools, reporting tools, and digital solutions. Progress has been made in MDR-TB management; however, challenges persist, necessitating resources to enhance access to rapid molecular screening tests.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11360384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling Involves <i>Echinococcus</i>-Host Intercommunication: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Hepatic Echinococcosis.","authors":"Haijun Gao, Zhuoma Bianba, Xiaojin Mo, Wei Hu, Zheng Feng, Fangye Zhou, Ting Zhang","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080175","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Echinococcosis, one of the most serious and life-threatening parasitic forms of zoonosis worldwide, is caused by the larvae of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> (<i>E. granulosus</i>) and <i>Echinococcus multilocularis</i> (<i>E. multilocularis</i>). Various drugs are being applied clinically to treat zoonosis; however, their therapeutic efficacy remains a great challenge, especially with albendazole as the preferred drug of choice. Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling controls normal cellular proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism in humans and mammals, which are intermediate hosts of <i>E. granulosus</i> and <i>E. multilocularis</i>. Disruption of RTK signaling can cause various forms of carcinogenesis and exacerbate the progression of certain forms of parasitic disease. As a result, a significant number of studies on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been conducted for the treatment of cancer and parasitic infection, with some TKIs already approved for clinical use for cancer. Notably, RTK signaling has been identified in the parasites <i>E. granulosus</i> and <i>E. multilocularis</i>; however, the mechanisms of RTK signaling response in <i>Echinococcus</i>-host intercommunication are not fully understood. Thus, understanding the RTK signaling response in <i>Echinococcus</i>-host intercommunication and the potential effect of RTK signaling is crucial for identifying new drug targets for echinococcosis. The present review illustrates that RTK signaling in the host is over-activated following infection by <i>E. granulosus</i> or <i>E. multilocularis</i> and can further facilitate the development of metacestodes in vitro. In addition, some TKIs exert strong parasitostatic effects on <i>E. granulosus</i> or <i>E. multilocularis,</i> both in vitro and/or in vivo, through downregulation of RTK signaling molecules. The summarized findings suggest that RTK signaling may be a promising drug target and that TKIs could be potential anti-<i>Echinococcus</i> drugs warranting further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11360685/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Di Chiara, Alessandro Lazzaro, Daniela Scribano, Maria Trancassini, Valeria Pietropaolo, Michele Sonnessa, Chiara De Luca, Rita Prota, Elisa Onestà, Gianluigi Laccetta, Gianluca Terrin
{"title":"Reduced Gut Bacterial Diversity in Early Life Predicts Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Neonates.","authors":"Maria Di Chiara, Alessandro Lazzaro, Daniela Scribano, Maria Trancassini, Valeria Pietropaolo, Michele Sonnessa, Chiara De Luca, Rita Prota, Elisa Onestà, Gianluigi Laccetta, Gianluca Terrin","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080174","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microbiota plays a crucial role in intestinal maturation in preterm newborns. The clinical manifestation of the immaturity of the gastro-intestinal tract is called feeding intolerance (FI). This condition may resolve spontaneously or dramatically evolve into necrotizing enterocolitis. One of the most challenging tasks for the neonatologist is to identify those neonates that will develop the disease early in order to adequately provide nutrition to these patients, from the very first hours of life. A close interplay between the maturity of the gastro-intestinal tract and gut microbiota has been described; however, in preterm neonates, this relationship is still undefined. We analyzed the bacterial composition of stool samples, collected early in life, from 30 preterm newborns classified as intolerant or tolerant according to the degree of readiness of the gastro-intestinal tract to receive enteral nutrition. The Pielou evenness index was significantly increased in intolerant compared with tolerant newborns. Data corrected for confounding variables confirmed that the occurrence of gut maturation was independently influenced by Pielou evenness at birth. A lower bacterial diversity very early in life is associated with improved feeding tolerance in preterm newborns. The abundance analysis showed that neonates not ready to receive enteral nutrition for feeding intolerance show, after birth, an increased abundance of <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Lachnospiracae</i>, <i>Enterobacter</i> and <i>Acinetobacter</i>. We can argue that those are the taxa that prevent the establishment of pioneer bacteria. A lower alpha-diversity, in the first days of life, may facilitate the seeding of beneficial pioneer bacteria that, in turn, drive healthy microbial colonization during neonatal life.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11359060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Linda Ferreira Lima, Ana Maria Anthônia Ferreira Lima Simão de Sousa, Lucimara Lopes Marques, Isabella Braghin Ferreira, Rogério Giuffrida, Louise Bach Kmetiuk, Alexander Welker Biondo, Vamilton Alvares Santarém
{"title":"Household Location (Urban, Peri-Urban and Rural Settlements) as an Associated Risk Factor for Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy in Southeastern Brazil.","authors":"Maria Linda Ferreira Lima, Ana Maria Anthônia Ferreira Lima Simão de Sousa, Lucimara Lopes Marques, Isabella Braghin Ferreira, Rogério Giuffrida, Louise Bach Kmetiuk, Alexander Welker Biondo, Vamilton Alvares Santarém","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080173","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Brazil has a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. However, there is a gap in comparing seroprevalence for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> across different environments, particularly among pregnant residents of rural and urban areas.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The prevalence of IgG and IgM for <i>T. gondii</i> was compared among pregnant residents of the urban, peri-urban, and rural settlement areas in a municipality in southeastern Brazil. Information regarding age and area of residence was compiled from January 2015 to December 2022. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the age and area of residence as risk factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1614 examinations were recorded, revealing 54.0% seropositivity, which was highest in the rural settlement (61.1%), followed by the peri-urban area (55.9%), and lowest in the urban area (49.2%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high prevalence of IgG and presence of IgM in pregnant residents of rural, peri-urban, and urban areas highlights the significance of the results obtained for strengthening maternal health programs aimed at preventing toxoplasmosis, regardless of their residence.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11358893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carrie Barrett, John Chiphwanya, Dorothy E Matipula, Janet Douglass, Louise A Kelly-Hope, Laura Dean
{"title":"Addressing the Syndemic Relationship between Lymphatic Filariasis and Mental Distress in Malawi: The Potential of Enhanced Self-Care.","authors":"Carrie Barrett, John Chiphwanya, Dorothy E Matipula, Janet Douglass, Louise A Kelly-Hope, Laura Dean","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080172","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed9080172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lymphatic filariasis (LF) causes disfiguring and disabling lymphoedema, which can lead to mental distress and requires life-long self-care treatment. This study applies syndemic theory to understand the biosocial relationship between LF and mental distress in Malawi. Using in-depth qualitative methods, we critically evaluate experiences of mental distress and LF through 21 life-history interviews, to narrate experiences from the perspective of persons affected by LF, and to understand how enhanced self-care (ESC) for lymphoedema management disrupts the syndemic relationship. Complementary key informant interviews with Ministry of Health LF programme staff were conducted to further understand intervention and health system delivery. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated, and then subject to thematic analysis. Our findings suggest that for persons affected by LF in Malawi, before being trained in ESC, absent referral pathways, inequalities in healthcare provision or available treatment, and limited knowledge of the condition (LF) drove the syndemic of LF and mental distress. Distress was often exacerbated by stigma and social exclusion, and shaped by intersections of gender, generation, poverty, and extreme climate conditions. We argue that addressing the syndemic suffering associated with LF and mental distress through interventions which center the needs of persons affected is critical in effective and equitable LF care delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11360657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}