Communication in Neglected Tropical Diseases’ elimination: A scoping review and call for action

Abstract

Background Although the practice of communication is often called upon when intervening and involving communities affected by NTDs, the disciplinary framework of health communication research has been largely absent from NTD strategies. To illustrate how practices conceptualized and developed within the communication field have been applied in the context of NTD elimination, we conducted a scoping review focusing on two diseases currently targeted for elimination by the WHO: lymphatic filariasis and Chagas disease. Methods We examined studies published between 2012 and 2020 in five electronic databases. Selected articles were required to (i) have explicit references to communication in either the abstract, title, or key words; (ii) further elaborate on the search terms (communication, message, media, participation and health education) in the body of the article; and (iii) sufficiently describe communication actions associated to those terms. Using the C-Change Socio-Ecological Model for Social and Behavior Change Communication as a reference, the articles were analysed to identify communication activities, theoretical frameworks, and/or rationales involved in their design, as well as their intended level of influence (individual, interpersonal, community, or enabling environment). Results and implications A total of 43 articles were analysed. Most interventions conceptualized communication as a set of support tools or supplemental activities delivering information and amplifying pre-defined messages aimed at increasing knowledge, encouraging community involvement, promoting individual behavior change, or securing some degree of acceptability of proposed strategies. Although important attempts at further exploring communication capabilities were identified, particularly in participation-based strategies, for most studies, communication consisted of an underdeveloped and under-theorized approach. We contend that a more complex understanding of the capacities offered by the health communication field could help attain the biomedical and social justice goals proposed in NTD elimination strategies. Three ways in which the field of health communication could further enhance NTD efforts are presented: informing interventions with theory-based frameworks, exploring the political complexity of community participation in specific contexts, and identifying conceptualizations of culture implied in interventions’ design. Conclusion This article is a call to action to consider the resources offered by the health communication field when researching, designing, or implementing NTD interventions.

Chagas Disease across the Ages: A Historical View and Commentary on Navigating Future Challenges

“…The adaptability of these vectors to both wild and domestic settings, particularly in substandard housing conditions, presents a challenge to disease control efforts [ 34 ]. Addressing this issue necessitates a comprehensive strategy, encompassing insecticide application, structural improvements to housing [ 35 ], and extensive community education to mitigate the spread of the disease effectively. Additionally, the asymptomatic nature of the disease’s early stage, the high genetic diversity of T. cruzi , and the lack of a vaccine make prevention difficult.…”

Therapeutic Strategies against Leishmania and Trypanosoma

“…In this context, chemotherapy remains the first strategy, which aims to control and eliminate these illnesses. However, the current therapeutic interventions to treat these NTDs are inadequate, using poorly effective drugs that are often associated with several severe side effects to the patient, as well as inconvenient routes of administration, which, in some cases, result in the abandonment of the treatment protocol [7][8][9]. In addition, the emergence of drug-resistant parasites is increasing worldwide [7][8][9].…”

“…However, the current therapeutic interventions to treat these NTDs are inadequate, using poorly effective drugs that are often associated with several severe side effects to the patient, as well as inconvenient routes of administration, which, in some cases, result in the abandonment of the treatment protocol [7][8][9]. In addition, the emergence of drug-resistant parasites is increasing worldwide [7][8][9]. To worsen this scenario, the development of new promising therapies to combat NTDs is severely limited by insufficient funding and the lack of governmental incentive programs.…”

“…To worsen this scenario, the development of new promising therapies to combat NTDs is severely limited by insufficient funding and the lack of governmental incentive programs. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies are not interested in developing novel effective drugs for NTDs in a timely manner due to the lack of significant profit inducements [7][8][9]. So, it is crucial for the international scientific community to develop novel drugs and new strategies to combat NTDs, which are essential actions for improving the lives of socioeconomically deprived individuals who are affected by these diseases [10,11].…”