Prevalence of neglected tropical skin diseases in institutional and community settings in Togo
Estimated start and end dates: 1 June 2021 to 31 December 2021
Main objective: Perform dermatological consultations in two schools and in one community, to identify the burden of neglected tropical skin diseases (NTDs)
Secondary objectives:
Carry out skin examinations of the pupils in two schools just outside the capital city of Lomé
Carry out skin examinations of the population in a rural community setting in north-east Togo (Binah)
Examine the data collected to identify the prevalence of cutaneous NTDs in each context
Consider the presence of stigma, where a skin infection is diagnosed
Disseminate the results at local and national level in Togo to health stakeholders including the Ministry of Health
Disseminate the results at international level to health actors and advocates such as the NTD group of the World Health Organization.
Study team: The project will be led and delivered by Togo partners. These include:
Professor Bayaki SAKA, University of Lomé and Dermatologist at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital (Togo Principal investigator and study co-ordinator)
Also part of the study team are Pr Koussake KOMBATE, Pr Abas Mouhari-Toure, Dr Sefako Abla AKAKPO, Dr Noude Julienne TECLESSOU, Pr Palokinam PITCHE
Within the UK, Dr Michael Head (University of Southampton) and Dr Steve Walker (LSHTM) will provide further support.
Ethical approval: We have secured ethical approval from both the Togo Bioethics Committtee (5 May 2021, reference 012/2021), and also the University of Southampton ethics committee (20 May 2021, reference 63498).
Skin NTDs: The project will examine the following diseases, which are part of the World Health Organization's list of cutaneous NTDs (https://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/skin-ntds/en/)
• Buruli ulcer
• Cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Post-kala-azar cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Leprosy
• Lymphatic filariasis (lymphedema and hydrocele)
• Mycetoma
• Onchocerciasis
• Scabies
• Yaws
• Fungal diseases
The study will also record any secondary complications observed such as bacterial superinfection.
Funding: Supported by a business development and networking grant of £10,000 from the Clinical Informatics Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.
Study contacts:
In Togo, Dr Saka - barthelemysaka@yahoo.fr
In the UK, Dr Michael Head - m.head@soton.ac.uk
The study Appendix can be found here.