Mean overall and domain HrQoL scores grouped by sociodemographic, parasitological, and clinical variables from 4,848 school children (2,269 females, 2,579 males) in Côte d'Ivoire.

<p>Domain 1 = physical wellbeing; domain 2 = psychosocial wellbeing; domain 3 = environmental wellbeing.</p><p>*Statistically significant (p<0.05) based on Wilcoxon rank sum (for variables with 2 categories) and Kruskal-Wallis test (for variables with more than 2 categories).</p><p>Mean overall and domain HrQoL scores grouped by sociodemographic, parasitological, and clinical variables from 4,848 school children (2,269 females, 2,579 males) in Côte d'Ivoire.</p

Flow chart, detailing study participation and compliance.

<p>The cross-sectional, school-based, national survey was carried between November 2011 and February 2012 in Côte d'Ivoire.</p

Classification of Colon Polyps and Risk of Neoplastic Progression

Colorectal polyps are small clumps of cells and they are classified on the basis of their histological characteristics. Until recently, they have been divided into two major groups: neoplastic and non-neoplastic mucosal polyps. Adenomatous polyps contain epithelial neoplasia and their size and histology correlate with the risk of progression to carcinoma. Non-neoplastic polyps, instead, can be divided into several distinct and unrelated categories including hyperplastic, mucosal, juvenile, Peutz-Jeghers, and inflammatory. Adenomas are recognized as the precursor lesions for colorectal carcinoma and recently also some hyperplastic lesions, with serrated morphology, have been reported to display a significant risk of neoplastic progression through the so-called serrated pathway. The sequence adenoma-carcinoma is caused by different molecular pathways. The most frequent are those of chromosomal instability pathway; the microsatellite instability pathway; the serrated pathway. Molecular complexity can explain the morphological heterogeneity and the timing of neoplastic progression

Map of Côte d'Ivoire showing the included schools (n = 92), stratified by rural and urban residential area.

<p>The study was conducted between November 2011 and February 2012 among school children aged 5–16 years. The majority (60%) of the enrolled schools were situated in the more densely populated southern ecozone.</p

Utility and validity measures of HrQoL instrument from 4,848 school children with complete questionnaire data.

<p>This study was conducted between November 2011 and February 2012 in 92 schools all over Côte d'Ivoire.</p>a<p>Floor and ceiling correspond to the percentage of scores at the minimum (0) and maximum (100) of the scaling range. Floor or ceiling effects ≤15% are considered acceptable and providing reliable estimates <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003287#pntd.0003287-Terwee1" target="_blank">[44]</a>.</p>b<p>All items of the HrQoL instrument added up to the Cronbach α values indicating measurement of the same concept. Values of α≥0.7 are recommended for comparison between groups <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003287#pntd.0003287-Nunnally1" target="_blank">[56]</a>.</p><p>To assess the relationship between HrQoL and VAS scores with symptom and disease reporting, a variable providing the total number of self-reported symptoms (n = 11) and diseases (n = 8) for each child was generated first, with a possible range of 0 to 19. Subsequently, Spearman rank correlation and linear regression analysis was performed with instrument scores in relation to the number of self-reported morbidities. All correlations and associations where of negative direction indicating decreasing HrQoL scores for increasing numbers of self-reported symptoms and diseases.</p><p>Similarly, a summary variable for 7 examined clinical signs (i.e., anemia, fever, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, stunting, underweight, and wasting) was generated, with a possible range of 0 to 7, and relationship with HrQoL and VAS scores assessed using linear regression analysis. Particularly the physical health domain showed strong negative association with increased number of clinical signs.</p><p>*Statistically significant (p<0.05).</p><p>Utility and validity measures of HrQoL instrument from 4,848 school children with complete questionnaire data.</p

Parameter estimates and predictive ability of Bayesian geostatistical multinomial logistic model.

<p>^*Significant based on 95% BCI.</p><p>Overall schistosomiasis risk: MAE  = 10.0%; sum of SD  = 2.0%.</p><p>Multinomial odds ratios (MOR) and median of the spatial parameters estimates are displayed with their 95% Bayesian credible intervals (BCI). Predictive ability is assessed with a model fitted on a subsample of the data (80%) and is reported by mean absolute error (MAE) and sum of the standard deviation (SD) of the predictive distributions.</p><p>Parameter estimates and predictive ability of Bayesian geostatistical multinomial logistic model.</p

Associated risk factors for <i>Plasmodium</i> and <i>Schistosoma</i> mono- and co-infection among 5,104 school children.

<p>Parasite mono- and co-infection prevalences and risk factors associated stem from a national survey conducted in Côte d'Ivoire between November 2011 and February 2012. Children from 92 different survey locations were parasitologically tested and socioeconomic status assessed together with their hygiene and health treatment behavior. The prevalences are given in percentages. Associations were assessed using a multinomial regression model adjusted for soil-transmitted helminths and accounting for cluster effects at school unit. Statistically significant (p<0.05) RRRs are highlighted in bold.</p><p>RRR = relative risk ratio.</p><p>CI = confidence interval.</p

Surveyed schools (N = 92) in a national cross-sectional survey carried out in Côte d’Ivoire between November 2011 and February 2012.

<p>Surveyed schools (N = 92) in a national cross-sectional survey carried out in Côte d’Ivoire between November 2011 and February 2012.</p

Misclassification of the surveyed schools by the predicted risk at school and health districts level.

<p>Number and percentage of schools overestimated and underestimated are given according to endemic thresholds defined by WHO for control interventions.</p><p>Misclassification of the surveyed schools by the predicted risk at school and health districts level.</p

Age-prevalence curves for soil-transmitted helminths (STH), <i>Schistosoma</i> spp., and <i>Plasmodium</i> spp.

<p>Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey in 92 schools in Côte d’Ivoire between November 2011 and February 2012.</p