Iron Supplementation in Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminths Control Programmes in Zambia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The objectives of this study is: to establish the coverage rate of weekly iron supplementation in children in intervention schools over a period of nine months document any side effects of weeekly iron supplementation among children in intervention schools over a period of nine months asses the feasibility of incorporating the weekly iron supplementation programme into the normal school activity in intervention schools determine the extent of acceptability and support for the iron supplementation programme by staff at the health centre nearest to the intervention schools compare the praziquantel efficacy and schistosomiasis reinfection in children in intervention schools with that of children in control schools following the introduction of weekely iron supplementation over a period of nine months determine the impact of weekly iron supplementation on haemoglobin levels of children in intervention schools and compare with children in control schools over a period of nine months

Detailed Description
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Iron deficiency anaemia is a common denominator for both schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths. Iron deficiency appears to affect the immune response against schistosomes and intestinal helminths. It therefore follows that correcting the iron deficiency anaemia will improve the efficacy of anthelminthics such as praziquantel (against schistosomiasis) and albendazol (against soil transmitted helminths) and ability of the host immune system to resist reinfection with schistosomes and soil transmitted helminths. The aim of this study is to identify factors necessary for a successful weekly iron supplementation programme in schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths control programmes. In addition impact of weekly iron supplementation programme n haemoglobin levels, efficacy of praziquantel, and schistosomiasis re-infection will be studied.

Official Title
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Iron Supplementation in Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminths Control Programmes in Zambia

Conditions
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Schistosomiasis, Helminthiases, Anaemia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: ferrous sulphate (drug)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria:all schoolchildren, in grade 2 and 3, at four selected schools - Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 9 Years
Maximum Age: 15 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: ferrous sulphate (drug)|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Urine samples examined for schistsoma haematobium at month 0, 3. 6 and 9 |  |  | 
| Stool samples examined for schistsoma mansoni at mont 0, 3, 6 and 9 |  |  | 
| Blood samples examined for haemoglobin level mont 0 and month 9 |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Any side effects to iron supplementation, measured every week for the first foru weeks after treatment start. Mesured on: |  |  | 
| - headache |  |  | 
| nausea |  |  | 
| vomiting |  |  | 
| body weakness |  |  | 
| diarrhoea |  |  | 
| abdominal pain |  |  | 
| others |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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iron deficiency schistosomiasis soil transmitted helminths