Find in Library
Search millions of books, articles, and more
Indexed Open Access Databases
Optimal control analysis of a transmission interruption model for the soil-transmitted helminth infections in Kenya
oleh: Collins Okoyo, Idah Orowe, Nelson Onyango, Antonio Montresor, Charles Mwandawiro, Graham F. Medley
Format: | Article |
---|---|
Diterbitkan: | Elsevier 2023-01-01 |
Deskripsi
Kenya is among the countries endemic for soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) with over 66 subcounties and over 6 million individuals being at-risk of infection. Currently, the country is implementing mass drug administration (MDA) to all the at-risk groups as the mainstay control strategy. This study aimed to develop and analyze an optimal control (OC) model, from a transmission interruption model, to obtain an optimal control strategy from a mix of three strategies evaluated. The study used the Pontryaginʼs maximum principle to solve, numerically, the OC model. The analysis results clearly demonstrated that water and sanitation when implemented together with the MDA programme offer the best chances of eliminating these tenacious and damaging parasites. Thus, we advocate for optimal implementation of the combined mix of the two interventions in order to achieve STH elimination in Kenya, and globally, in a short implementation period of less than eight years.