Study toolkit for: Effectiveness of community-based burden estimation to achieve elimination of lymphatic filariasis: a comparative cross-sectional investigation in Côte d’Ivoire

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Côte d’Ivoire, we developed a strategy for enumeration of LFM through community-based screening (CBS). We implemented this strategy and estimated LFM prevalence in Bongouanou District, Côte d’Ivoire, using a comparative cross-sectional design, with the CBS compared to a population-based prevalence survey led by specially trained local nurses.

We evaluated the reliability of case identification, coverage, equity, and cost of CBS. Results showed the CBS to provide comparable prevalence estimates to the prevalence survey, with direct financial costs of$0.17 per individual targeted and $69.62 per case confirmed. Our community-based approach to LFM burden estimation appears scalable and provided reliable prevalence estimates for LFM, scrotal swellings and LF-lymphoedema.