01787nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001653002400042653001300066653001000079653001800089653001300107100001500120700001500135700001300150700001900163700001800182700001400200245017800214300001100392490000600403520112200409022001401531       2011                            d10aSchistosoma mansoni10aSampling10aKenya10aGeostatistics10aEthiopia1 aSturrock H1 aGething PW1 aAshton R1 aKolaczinski JH1 aKabatereine N1 aBrooker S00aPlanning schistosomiasis control: investigation of alternative sampling strategies for Schistosoma mansoni to target mass drug administration of praziquantel in East Africa.  a165-750 v33 a<p>In schistosomiasis control, there is a need to geographically target treatment to populations at high risk of morbidity. This paper evaluates alternative sampling strategies for surveys of Schistosoma mansoni to target mass drug administration in Kenya and Ethiopia. Two main designs are considered: lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) of children from all schools; and a geostatistical design that samples a subset of schools and uses semi-variogram analysis and spatial interpolation to predict prevalence in the remaining unsurveyed schools. Computerized simulations are used to investigate the performance of sampling strategies in correctly classifying schools according to treatment needs and their cost-effectiveness in identifying high prevalence schools. LQAS performs better than geostatistical sampling in correctly classifying schools, but at a cost with a higher cost per high prevalence school correctly classified. It is suggested that the optimal surveying strategy for S. mansoni needs to take into account the goals of the control programme and the financial and drug resources available.</p>
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