Dellar, Rachael, Ali, Oumer, Kinfe, Mersha, Mengiste, Asrat, Davey, Gail, Bremner, Stephen, Semrau, Maya and Fekadu, Abebaw (2022) Effect of a community-based holistic care package on physical and psychosocial outcomes in people with lower limb disorder caused by lymphatic filariasis, podoconiosis and leprosy in Ethiopia: Results from the EnDPoINT pilot cohort study. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. pp. 1-8. ISSN 0002-9637

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (954kB)

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), podoconiosis, and leprosy are highly stigmatized neglected tropical diseases that can cause lower limb swelling and deformity. Simple interventions to support self-care can reduce their physical impacts, but little is known about how to address the psychosocial needs of people living with the diseases, and about how to scale-up morbidity reduction programs. EnDPoINT is a multistage implementation study designed to address these knowledge gaps by developing and evaluating a holistic care package that can be integrated into the Ethiopian health system. This article presents the quantitative results from the EnDPoINT pilot, in which the effectiveness of the care package wasassessed in 251 participants from one district in northern Ethiopian using a pre-post design. Reductions 12 months after care package initiation were seen in attacks of acute adenolymphangitis (adjusted odds ratio for attack in last month 0.005; 95% CI 0.001, 0.02; P , 0.001), lower limb and foot circumference (mean difference lower limb circumference 22.0 cm; 95% CI 22.3, 21.8; P, 0.001; foot circumference 22.3 cm; 95% CI 22.5, 22.0; P , 0.001), and lymphedema stage (mean reduction in stage 20.27; 95% CI 20.37, 20.19; P , 0.001). Significant improvements were also observed in scores assessing disability, quality-of-life, depression, stigma, discrimination, and social support. This study thus suggests that the EnDPoINT care package is highly effective in reducing morbidity in people living with LF, podoconiosis, and leprosy in northern Ethiopia.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Global Health and Infection
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2022 16:55
Last Modified:	27 Apr 2023 10:28
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/106563

View download statistics for this item

📧 Request an update