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Integration of traditional healers in Human African Trypanosomiasis case finding in Central Africa: a quasi-experimental study | Journal Article / Research | MSF Science Portal
Journal Article
|Research

Integration of traditional healers in Human African Trypanosomiasis case finding in Central Africa: a quasi-experimental study

Kwedi Nolna S, Ntone R, Fouda Mbarga N, Mbainda S, Mutangala W, Boua B, Niba M, Okoko A
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
Based on the premise that Africans in rural areas seek health care from traditional healers, this study investigated a collaborative model between traditional healers and the national Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) programs across seven endemic foci in seven central African countries by measuring the model's contribution to HAT case finding.

METHOD
Traditional healers were recruited and trained by health professionals to identify HAT suspects based on its basics signs and symptoms and to refer them to the National Sleeping Sickness Control Program (NSSCP) for testing and confirmatory diagnosis.

RESULTS
35 traditional healers were recruited and trained, 28 finally participated in this study (80%) and referred 278 HAT suspects, of which 20 (7.19%) were CATT positive for the disease. Most cases originated from Bandundu (45%) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and from Ngabe (35%) in Congo. Twelve (4.32%) patients had confirmatory diagnosis. Although a statistically significant difference was not shown in terms of case finding (p = 0.56), traditional healers were able to refer confirmed HAT cases that were ultimately cared for by NCSSPs.

CONCLUSION
Integrating traditional healers in the control program of HAT will likely enhance the detection of cases, thereby, eventually contributing to the elimination of HAT in the most affected communities.

Countries

Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo-Brazzaville Democratic Republic of Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon

Subject Area

neglected tropical diseasessleeping sickness

Languages

English
DOI
10.3390/tropicalmed5040172
Published Date
17 Nov 2020
PubMed ID
33212918
Journal
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages 172
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