This cross-sectional efficacy surveillance of albendazole was conducted during the MDA campaign in four districts of the western province of Rwanda in April 2019. The three districts located around the belt of lake Kivu namely, Rubavu, Nyamasheke, and Rusizi, were selected for this study based on epidemiological data related to high endemicity of STH. Within each district, two schools were selected based on previous STH prevalence data, and the number of school-age children attending. A sample proportion of each school to contribute to the whole study sample was based on student population size. School children were systematically sampled in each class using class lists.
The study participants were school-age children who were infected with at least one STH parasite (hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura). A total of 4998 school-age children (5–15 years old) were screened for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm. A total of 1526 school children who tested positive for at least one STH parasite were enrolled in this efficacy surveillance study and were eligible for albendazole preventive chemotherapy as per the Rwandan national NTD public health program.
The study participants were school-age children who were infected with at least one STH parasite (hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura). A total of 4998 school-age children (5–15 years old) were screened for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm. A total of 1526 school children who tested positive for at least one STH parasite were enrolled in this efficacy surveillance study and were eligible for albendazole preventive chemotherapy as per the Rwandan national NTD public health program.
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