Policy and Executive Barriers in Preventing and Eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Systematic Review

Ali Sarabi Asiabar, Alireza Jabbari, Aziz Rezapour, Mohammadreza Jabbari Khanbebin, Pezhman Atafimanesh, Elaheh Mazaheri, Marziye Hadian

Abstract


Background: Tropical diseases inflict many of those living in tropical and subtropical areas each year. These populations because of these diseases suffer considerable financial and human losses. Some of these diseases are known as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and they can be highly dangerous. Still, they have not received the attention they need. Given the necessity of eliminating these diseases, the present study is an attempt to examine the reasons for unsuccessful attempts to eliminate diseases like NTDs. Methods: The current study was a systematic analysis of literature on neglected tropical diseases that were found in the databases of the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Pro Quest, Cochrane, and Embase before April 2023. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) for articles and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) criteria were used to conduct the study. Results: Based on the systematic search, 3193 papers were found and after the elimination of duplicates and irrelevant ones, a total of 28 articles remained to examine the challenges to eradicate neglected tropical diseases. Four themes were found for the challenges of controlling and eliminating neglected tropic diseases including drawbacks of programs for disease management policies, environmental challenges, executive challenges, and research field challenges. Thirty-six subthemes were obtained in this study, which showed cases such as the presence of immigrants and refugees, weaknesses in public health infrastructure and programs, dynamic epidemiological settings, lack of executive prioritization appropriate to endemic countries, and highly customized research infrastructures. Ending neglected tropical diseases requires an innovative roadmap and global cooperation. Conclusions: To achieve important eradication goals, measures such as acceleration in practice are needed to plan, intensify executive and operational approaches, change application models, innovate processes, and promote culture are needed. In addition, to make possible the elimination of neglected tropical diseases, there is an undeniable need for providing financial, human, and research resources. In addition, there is a need for efficient health infrastructure management, paying attention to migrants and refugees, setting explicit targets, prioritizing based on local conditions, and paying more attention to political and social developments.

Keywords


Eradicate; neglected diseases; neglected tropical disease; NTD; prevent; rare diseases

Full Text:

PDF

References


Deribe K. Neglected tropical disease targets must include morbidity. Lancet Glob Health 2015;3:e596.

Jabbari A, Salahi S, Hadian M, Hosseini E, Sheikhbardsiri H. Exploring the challenges of Iranian government hospitals related to Covid-19 pandemic management: A qualitative content analysis research from the nurses perspective. BMC Nurs 2022;21:1-10.

Hotez PJ, Damania A, Bottazzi ME. Central Latin America: Two decades of challenges in neglected tropical disease control. CA, USA: Public Library of Science San Francisco; 2020.

Hadian M, Mozafari MR, Mazaheri E, Jabbari A. Challenges of the Health System in Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases; Systematized Review. Int J Prev Med 2021;12:71.

The global challenge of NTDs: The classic interface of poverty, health and development. WHO: WHO; 2021. Available from: https://www.heart resources.org/reading_pack/global-challengeNTDs-classic-interface-poverty-health-development/ [Last accessed on 2023 Feb 23].

Becker SL, Liwanag HJ, Snyder JS, Akogun O, Belizario V Jr, Freeman MC, et al. Toward the 2020 goal of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control and elimination. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018;12:e0006606.

Wall LL. Obstetric fistula is a “neglected tropical disease”. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012;6:e1769.

Tsai J-J, Lin P-C, Tsai C-Y, Wang Y-H, Liu L-T. Low frequency of asymptomatic dengue virus-infected donors in blood donor centers during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan. PLoS One 2018;13:e0205248.

Simpson H, Deribe K, Tabah EN, Peters A, Maman I, Frimpong M, et al. Mapping the global distribution of Buruli ulcer: A systematic review with evidence consensus. Lancet Glob Health 2019;7:e912-22.

Rossi M, Fasel N. How to master the host immune system? Leishmania parasites have the solutions! Int Immunol 2018;30:103-11.

Ware RE. Is sickle cell anemia a neglected tropical disease? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013;7:e2120.

Errecaborde KM, Stauffer W, Cetron M. Neglected tropical disease control and elimination: Is human displacement an Achilles heel? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015;9:e0003535.

Alessio GD, de Araújo FF, Silva JS, Júnior PAS, de Souza Gomes M, do Amaral LR, et al. Human chagas-flow ATE-IgG1 for advanced universal and Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units-specific serodiagnosis of Chagas disease. Sci Rep 2020;10:13296.

WHO. Integrating neglected tropical diseases into global health and development. World Health Organization; 2020.

Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Eberhard ML, Weiss A, Withers PC, Roy SL, et al. Dracunculiasis eradication: Are we there yet? Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018;99:388-95.

Mulenga GM, Henning L, Chilongo K, Mubamba C, Namangala B, Gummow B. Insights into the control and management of human and bovine African trypanosomiasis in Zambia between 2009 and 2019-A review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020;5:115.

Mieras LF, Taal AT, van Brakel WH, Cambau E, Saunderson PR, Smith WCS, et al. An enhanced regimen as post-exposure chemoprophylaxis for leprosy: PEP+. BMC Infect Dis 2018;18:506.

Hadian M, Jabbari A, Sheikhbardsiri H. Workplace violence and influencing factors among paramedic pre hospital paramedic personnel (city and road) in Iran: A quality content analysis. BMC Emerg Med 2021;21:1-7.

Koudou BG, Kouakou M-M, Ouattara AF, Yeo S, Brika P, Meite A, et al. Update on the current status of onchocerciasis in Côte d’Ivoire following 40 years of intervention: Progress and challenges. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018;12:e0006897.

Cama A, Müller A, Taoaba R, Butcher RMR, Itibita I, Migchelsen SJ, et al. Prevalence of signs of trachoma, ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection and antibodies to Pgp3 in residents of Kiritimati Island, Kiribati. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017;11:e0005863.

Hadian M, Jabbari A, editors. Challenges and Strategies for Success in Controlling Infectious and Tropical Diseases from the Perspective of Experts: Qualitative Study. ICRID 2021: 23th International Conference on Rare Infectious Diseases. Prague Czechia: World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences; 2021.

Hadian M, Jabbari A, Mazaheri E. What must Iran do for Palliative care? A systematized review. J Educ Health Promot 2020;9:276.

Jabbari A, Jafari A, Hadian M, Ghasemi M. Model-based costeffectiveness analysis of atorvastatin drugs for prevention of cardiovascular diseases in Iran. Int J Prev Med 2020;11:57.

Silva Junior G, Srisawat N, Sirivongrangson P, Fayad T, Sanclemente E, Daher E. Neglected Tropical Diseases and the Kidneys. Contrib Nephrol 2021;199:201-28.

World Health Organization. Eradication of yaws: Procedures for verification and certification of interruption of transmission. World Health Organization; 2018. Report No.: 9241512903.

Hadian M, Jabbari A, Abdollahi M, Hosseini E, Sheikhbardsiri H. Explore pre-hospital emergency challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: A quality content analysis in the Iranian context. Front Public Health 2022;10:864019.

Grant MJ, Booth A. A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Info Libr J 2009;26:91-108.

Hadian M, Jabbari A, Mazaheri E, Norouzi M. What is the impact of clinical guidelines on imaging costs? J Educ Health Promot 2021;10:10.

Wouters OJ, Downs PW, Zoerhoff KL, Crowley KR, Frawley H, Einberg J, et al. Resource planning for neglected tropical disease (NTD) control programs: Feasibility study of the Tool for Integrated Planning and Costing (TIPAC). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014;8:e2619.

Ayode D, McBride CM, de Heer HD, Watanabe E, Gebreyesus T, Tora A, et al. A qualitative study exploring barriers related to use of footwear in rural highland Ethiopia: Implications for neglected tropical disease control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013;7:e2199.

Boakye D. Challenges to global control and/or elimination of NTDs: Threats of animal reservoirs of human infections. Ghana Med J 2016;50:200.

Carlton JM, Sina BJ, Adams JH. Why is Plasmodium vivax a neglected tropical disease? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011;5:e1160.

Hadian M, Mazaheri E, Jabbari A. Different approaches to confronting the biological epidemic; prevention tools with an emphasis on COVID-19: A systematized study. Int J Prev Med 2021;12:127.

Kariuki T, Phillips R, Njenga S, Olesen OF, Klatser PR, Porro R, et al. Research and capacity building for control of neglected tropical diseases: The need for a different approach. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011;5:e1020.

Hooper PJ, Zoerhoff KL, Kyelem D, Chu B, Flueckiger RM, Bamani S, et al. The effects of integration on financing and coverage of neglected tropical disease programs. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013;89:407-10.

Aagaard-Hansen J, Chaignat C. Neglected Tropical Diseases: Equity and Social Determinants. 2010. p. 135-57.

Adams AM, Vuckovic M, Birch E, Brant TA, Bialek S, Yoon D, et al. Eliminating neglected tropical diseases in urban areas: A review of challenges, strategies and research directions for successful mass drug administration. Trop Med Infect Dis 2018;3:122.

Chen C, Cromwell EA, King JD, Mosher A, Harding-Esch EM, Ngondi JM, et al. Incremental cost of conducting population-based prevalence surveys for a neglected tropical disease: The example of trachoma in 8 national programs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011;5:e979.

Johnston EA, Teague J, Graham JP. Challenges and opportunities associated with neglected tropical disease and water, sanitation and hygiene intersectoral integration programs. BMC Public Health 2015;15:547.

Njomo DW, Kimani BW, Kibe LW, Okoyo C, Omondi WP, Sultani HM. Implementation challenges and opportunities for improved mass treatment uptake for lymphatic filariasis elimination: Perceptions and experiences of community drug distributors of coastal Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020;14:e0009012.

Navarro M, Norman FF, Pérez-Molina JA, López-Vélez R. Benznidazole shortage makes chagas disease a neglected tropical disease in developed countries: Data from Spain. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012;87:489-90.

Choy RK, Huston CD. Cryptosporidiosis should be designated as a tropical disease by the US Food and Drug Administration. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020;14:e0008252.

Furtado T, Franzen S, van Loggerenberg F, Carn G, Grahek S, McBride M, et al. Strengthening neglected tropical disease research through enhancing research-site capacity: An evaluation of a novel web application to facilitate research collaborations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014;8:e3225.

Hotez PJ, Damania A, Bottazzi ME. Central Latin America: Two decades of challenges in neglected tropical disease control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020;14:e0007962.

Dembélé M, Bamani S, Dembélé R, Traoré MO, Goita S, Traoré MN, et al. Implementing preventive chemotherapy through an integrated National Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program in Mali. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012;6:e1574.

Ca J, Kumar P VB, Kandi V, Girish N, Sanjan K, Dharshini D, et al. Neglected tropical diseases: A comprehensive review. Cureus 2024;16:e53933.

Casulli A, Antinori S, Bartoloni A, D'Amelio S, Gabrielli AF, Gazzoli G, et al. IN-NTD network. Neglected Tropical Diseases in Italy: introducing IN-NTD, the Italian network for NTDs. Parasitology 2023;150:1082-8.