The Safety, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Single-Dose Rifampicin as Post-Exposure Chemoprophylaxis for Contacts of Leprosy Patients in Togo: A Mixed-Method Sequential Explanatory Study.

The World Health Organization is encouraging countries to include contact screening and single-dose rifampicin administration as preventive chemotherapy for contacts of leprosy patients in their leprosy control activities. However, no study has been conducted to assess the safety of SDR-PEP and the acceptability and feasibility of this intervention in Togo. To assess the safety of SDR-PEP, we used a cohort design, and for acceptability and feasibility, we used a mixed method, combining a quantitative study to assess the safety of SDR-PEP in a cohort of contacts from recently diagnosed leprosy patients followed by a qualitative study to identify the social, cultural, or institutional factors that would influence the adoption of single-dose rifampicin as post-exposure prophylaxis for contacts of leprosy patients in Togo.

Optimizing the survey design for assessing schistosomiasis at the sub-district for treatment decision making.

Background: Schistosomiasis control programs typically launch with district-level, school-based preventive chemotherapy (PC). Recent World Health Organization recommendations are to shift to community-wide treatment where schistosomiasis prevalence is >10%. Simultaneously there is a push to move to sub-district PC to prioritize communities in need of treatment and alleviate the pressure on global praziquantel need, but few countries have sub-district prevalence data and no guidelines on how to collect this information.

Any resurgence of leprosy cases in the Togo's post-elimination period? Trend analysis of reported leprosy cases from 2010 to 2022.

Background: Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Togo achieved the target of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem in 2000 (less than 1 case/10 000 population). However, new cases of leprosy are still being reported.

Effectiveness of Sensitization Campaigns in Reducing Leprosy-Related Stigma in Rural Togo: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: In the global strategy to eliminate leprosy, there remains a need for early case detection to successfully interrupt transmissions. Poor knowledge about leprosy and leprosy-related stigma are key drivers of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Sensitization campaigns to inform and increase awareness among the general population are an integral part of many national neglected tropical disease programs.