Cost comparison of rapid questionnaire screening for individuals at risk of clonorchiasis in low- and high-prevalence communities in northern Vietnam.
Clonorchiasis is an emerging food-borne trematode infection in Vietnam. Due to the absence of cost-effective preventive measures its control largely relies on morbidity reduction by chemotherapy with praziquantel. We performed a comparative cost estimation of three different diagnostic and intervention approaches in areas of high and low prevalence of clonorchiasis in northern Vietnam in order to select more cost-effective chemotherapy. Our study confirmed that a questionnaire investigating the habit of eating raw, freshwater fish was a rapid, cost-effective and operationally feasible tool for identifying individuals at risk of clonorchiasis in both high-prevalence and low-prevalence areas. The cost of diagnosis and intervention per person and per true positive case was 20-fold higher in low-prevalence areas, regardless of the type of approach. Geographical mapping of high-risk areas prior to screening is, therefore, recommended to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the intervention activities.
Yajima
Aya
A
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. yajimaaya@gmail.com
Cong
Dai Tran
DT
Trung
Dung Do
DD
Cam
Thach Dang Thi
TD
Montresor
Antonio
A
D000818:Animals; D003003:Clonorchiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004032:Diet; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000191:economics; D014744:Vietnam