Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys

PURPOSE: Population-based prevalence surveys are essential for decision-making on interventions to achieve trachoma elimination as a public health problem. This paper outlines the methodologies of Tropical Data, which supports work to undertake those surveys. METHODS: Tropical Data is a consortium of partners that supports health ministries worldwide to conduct globally standardised prevalence surveys that conform to World Health Organization recommendations. Founding principles are health ministry ownership, partnership and collaboration, and quality assurance and quality control at every step of the survey process. Support covers survey planning, survey design, training, electronic data collection and fieldwork, and data management, analysis and dissemination. Methods are adapted to meet local context and needs. Customisations, operational research and integration of other diseases into routine trachoma surveys have also been supported. RESULTS: Between 29th February 2016 and 24th April 2023, 3373 trachoma surveys across 50 countries have been supported, resulting in 10,818,502 people being examined for trachoma. CONCLUSION: This health ministry-led, standardised approach, with support from the start to the end of the survey process, has helped all trachoma elimination stakeholders to know where interventions are needed, where interventions can be stopped, and when elimination as a public health problem has been achieved. Flexibility to meet specific country contexts, adaptation to changes in global guidance and adjustments in response to user feedback have facilitated innovation in evidence-based methodologies, and supported health ministries to strive for global disease control targets

The Vascular Flora of the Mont-Chenoua Massif (Algeria)

L’étude vise à quantifier la richesse et la diversité floristique du couvert végétal du Mont-Chenoua, massif du littoral algérois qui culmine à 905 m d’altitude. Ce site montre une grande richesse floristique estimée à 444 espèces et sous-espèces (75 familles). Le taux d’endémisme s’élève à 4,1 %, et la proportion des taxons rares ou menacés est évaluée à 7,9 %. Au total, 24,32% de l’ensemble de cette flore peut être considérée comme remarquable.The study aims to quantify the richness and floristic diversity of the vegetation on Mont-Chenoua, a small massif on the Algerian coastline, which rises to 905 meters. This site exhibits considerable floristic diversity estimated at 444 species and sub-species (75 amilies). The rate of endemism is 4.1%, and the proportion of rare or endangered taxa is an estimated 7.9%. 24.32% of the entire flora is remarkable

In vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective effect of three endemic plants against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

The aim of the study was to investigate in vitro potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extracts from the aerial parts of Matricaria pubescens, Centaurea incana, and Santolina africana, against carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. The different aerial parts of three methanolic extracts, exhibited antioxidant activity in the DPPH free radical (IC50, 0.032, 0.087 and 0.044 mg/ml) respectively. The reducing ability of the extracts showed a dose-dependent trend increasing with increase in the concentrations of the extracts.The antioxidant activity of samples at the concentration of 2 mg/ml was reflected in their ability to inhibit the bleaching of β-carotene. Treated groups with extracts of studied three plants showed decrease in plasma levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and an increase in plasma catalase levels activities, while hepatic MDA decreased and catalase increased as compared to carbon tetrachloride treated groups. In consistency with in vivo and in vitro results, extracts of all three plants ameliorated the carbon tetrachloride extensive damage to liver tissue of treated animals, but, Santolina africana extract was the most efficient

Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys

Population-based prevalence surveys are essential for decision-making on interventions to achieve trachoma elimination as a public health problem. This paper outlines the methodologies of Tropical Data, which supports work to undertake those surveys. Tropical Data is a consortium of partners that supports health ministries worldwide to conduct globally standardised prevalence surveys that conform to World Health Organization recommendations. Founding principles are health ministry ownership, partnership and collaboration, and quality assurance and quality control at every step of the survey process. Support covers survey planning, survey design, training, electronic data collection and fieldwork, and data management, analysis and dissemination. Methods are adapted to meet local context and needs. Customisations, operational research and integration of other diseases into routine trachoma surveys have also been supported. Between 29 February 2016 and 24 April 2023, 3373 trachoma surveys across 50 countries have been supported, resulting in 10,818,502 people being examined for trachoma. This health ministry-led, standardised approach, with support from the start to the end of the survey process, has helped all trachoma elimination stakeholders to know where interventions are needed, where interventions can be stopped, and when elimination as a public health problem has been achieved. Flexibility to meet specific country contexts, adaptation to changes in global guidance and adjustments in response to user feedback have facilitated innovation in evidence-based methodologies, and supported health ministries to strive for global disease control targets

Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys

Population-based prevalence surveys are essential for decision-making on interventions to achieve trachoma elimination as a public health problem. This paper outlines the methodologies of Tropical Data, which supports work to undertake those surveys. Tropical Data is a consortium of partners that supports health ministries worldwide to conduct globally standardised prevalence surveys that conform to World Health Organization recommendations. Founding principles are health ministry ownership, partnership and collaboration, and quality assurance and quality control at every step of the survey process. Support covers survey planning, survey design, training, electronic data collection and fieldwork, and data management, analysis and dissemination. Methods are adapted to meet local context and needs. Customisations, operational research and integration of other diseases into routine trachoma surveys have also been supported. Between 29th February 2016 and 24th April 2023, 3373 trachoma surveys across 50 countries have been supported, resulting in 10,818,502 people being examined for trachoma. This health ministry-led, standardised approach, with support from the start to the end of the survey process, has helped all trachoma elimination stakeholders to know where interventions are needed, where interventions can be stopped, and when elimination as a public health problem has been achieved. Flexibility to meet specific country contexts, adaptation to changes in global guidance and adjustments in response to user feedback have facilitated innovation in evidence-based methodologies, and supported health ministries to strive for global disease control targets.</p