The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China is one of the world's most important foci for cystic echinococcosis. Domestic dogs are the main source for human infection, and previous studies in Xinjiang have found a canine Echinococcus spp. coproELISA prevalence of between 36% and 41%. In 2010 the Chinese National Echinococcosis Control Programme was implemented in Xinjiang, and incl...

BACKGROUND Deficiencies in record keeping practices have been reported at primary care level in the public health sector in South Africa. These deficiencies have the potential to negatively impact patient health outcomes as the break in information may hinder continuity of care. This disruption in information management has particular relevance for patients with chronic diseases. OBJECTIVES T...

Abbreviations: A/C: Area in Charges; AFP: Acute Flaccid Paralysis; AFP: Acute Flaccid Paralysis; CNIC: Computerized National Identity Card; cVDPV2: Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Vaccine Virus type 2; DDM: Direct Dis-imbursement Method; DEWS: Disease Early Warning System; DHMT: District Health Management Team; DHMT: District Health Management Team; DHOs: District Health Offices; DPT: Diphthe...

An evaluation of a commercially available antigen capture dipstick that detects schistosome circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine was conducted in representative endemic areas for intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis in Uganda and Zanzibar, respectively. Under field-based conditions, the sensitivity (SS) and specificity (SP) of the dipstick was 83 and 81% for detection of Schistosoma ma...

HIV Prevalence is still high in Nigeria and Mother to Child transmission of HIV is another burden on HIV positive sero concordance or discordance couples. The Couple HIV Counselling and Testing program (CHCT) was designed to assist in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV as a way of fighting against the dreaded HIV epidemics. There are no documented evidence on uptake and accep...

BACKGROUND The success of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was remarkable, but four countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nigeria - never interrupted polio transmission. Pakistan reportedly achieved all milestones except interrupting virus transmission. The aim of the study was to establish valid and reliable estimate for: routine oral polio vaccine (OPV) coverage, logistics manag...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Estimation of vaccination coverage at the local level is essential to identify communities that may require additional support. Cluster surveys can be used in resource-poor settings, when population figures are inaccurate. To be feasible, cluster samples need to be small, without losing robustness of results. The clustered LQAS (CLQAS) approach has been proposed as an a...