Association between footwear use and neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has primarily focused on preventive chemotherapy and case management. Less attention has been placed on the role of ensuring access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene and personal preventive measures in reducing exposure to infection. Our aim was to assess whether footwear use was associated with a lower risk of selected NTDs.

Methodology

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between footwear use and infection or disease for those NTDs for which the route of transmission or occurrence may be through the feet. We included Buruli ulcer, cutaneous larva migrans (CLM), leptospirosis, mycetoma, myiasis, podoconiosis, snakebite, tungiasis, and soil-transmitted helminth (STH)

SUBMITTER: Tomczyk S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4230915 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature