The first BILGENSA Research Network Workshop in Zambia; Identifying Research Priorities, Challenges and Needs in Genital Bilharzia in Southern Africa
Creators: name: Lamberti, Olimpia
name: Ndubani, Rhoda
name: Bustinduy, Amaya
name: Anna, Kildemoes
name: Hoekstra, Pytsje
name: Fitzpatrick, Jennifer
name: Kelly, Helen
name: Vwalika, Bellington
name: Randrianasolo, Bodo
name: Sturt, Amy
name: Kayuni, Seke
name: Choko, Augustine
name: Kasese, Nkatya
name: Kjetland, Eyrun
name: Nemungadi, Takalani
name: Mocumbi, Sibone
name: Samson, Anna
name: Ntapara, Elizabeth
name: Thomson, Anifrid
name: Danstan, Elizabeth
name: Chikwari, Chido
name: Martin, Kevin
name: Rabiu, Ibrahim
name: Terkie, Gifty
name: Chaima, David
name: Kasoka, Manuel
name: Joeker, Karoline
name: Schmidt Arenholt, Louise
name: Leutscher, Peter
name: Stothard, J. Russel
name: Rabozakandria, Oliva
name: Gouvras, Anouk
name: Munthali, Tendai
name: Hameja, Grace
name: Kanfwa, Paul
name: Hikabasa, Halwindi
name: Ayles, Helen
name: Shanaube, Kwame
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Female genital schistosomiasis
FGS
male genital schistosomiasis
MGS
Schistosoma haematobium
research
needs
Southern Africa

description: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and male genital schistosomiasis (MGS) are gender-specific manifestations of urogenital schistosomiasis. Morbidity is a consequence of prolonged inflammation in the human genital tract caused by the entrapped eggs of the waterborne parasite, Schistosoma (S.) haematobium. Both diseases affect the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of millions of people globally, especially in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Awareness and knowledge of these diseases is largely absent among affected communities and healthcare workers in endemic countries. Accurate burden of FGS and MGS disease estimates, single and combined, are absent, mostly due to the absence of standardized methods for individual or population-based screening and diagnosis. In addition, there are disparities in country-specific FGS and MGS knowledge, research and implementation approaches, and diagnosis and treatment. There are currently no WHO guidelines to inform practice. The BILGENSA (Genital Bilharzia in Southern Africa) Research Network aimed to create a collaborative multidisciplinary network to advance clinical research of FGS and MGS across Southern African endemic countries. The workshop was held in Lusaka, Zambia over two days in November 2022. Over 150 researchers and stakeholders from different schistosomiasis endemic settings attended. Attendees identified challenges and research priorities around FGS and MGS from their respective countries. Key research themes identified across settings included: 1) To increase the knowledge about the local burden of FGS and MGS; 2) To raise awareness among local communities and healthcare workers; 3) To develop effective and scalable guidelines for disease diagnosis and management; 4) To understand the effect of treatment interventions on disease progression, and 5) To integrate FGS and MGS within other existing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This data reports the supplementary material for the paper which discusses the key research needs and priorities that emerged during the workshop.