Pilot Study of Arpraziquantel Treatment for Schistosomiasis in Preschool Children Using Routine Health Campaigns in Kenya, Cte dIvoire, and Uganda

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating different ways to deliver arpraziquantel, a child-friendly form of praziquantel, to preschool-aged children 2 to under 5 years who are usually missed in schistosomiasis treatment campaigns. This small-scale public health study is being conducted in Cte dIvoire, Kenya, and Uganda to understand how well these delivery platforms work in reaching children and to identify training and social mobilization needs for effective distribution. The study involves giving a single oral dose of arpraziquantel dispersible tablets at 50mgkg or 60mgkg depending on the country, to children in selected villages. Two main delivery platforms are used routine schistosomiasis mass drug administration campaigns led by national neglected tropical disease programs and vitamin A distribution or child health days led by nutrition programs. The study collects data before, during, and after drug distribution to assess coverage, feasibility, and acceptability of these delivery methods. Participants and caregivers will be involved in assessments before and after drug administration to capture training and social mobilization activities and to evaluate experiences of children, parents, community members, health workers, and program staff. Safety data including adverse events are collected using existing pharmacovigilance tools. The main outcome measured is how well the platforms perform for drug distribution, with additional evaluation of communication and training effectiveness. Data collection spans from three months before to twelve weeks after the drug distribution to inform future scale-up.

Introduction of Arpraziquantel Treatment for Schistosomiasis Control in Preschool-aged Children in Endemic Areas: A Small-scale Public Health Intervention Study