02822nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001653001300042653003500055653003300090653002000123653002000143100001300163700001600176245019900192856007400391300000800465490000700473520212200480022001402602       2019                            d10aChildren10amass drug administration (MDA)10aPreventive chemotherapy (PC)10aRisk Assessment10aschistosomiasis1 aNcube MV1 aChimbari MJ00aA prospective risk assessment of the implementation of a schistosomiasis preventive mass drug administration for children aged five years and below in the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal.  uhttps://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186%2Fs12913-019-4507-1.pdf  a6850 v193 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Schistosomiasis is endemic in the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The South Africa Department of Health (DoH) has decided to implement a schistosomiasis preventive mass drug administration program in all affected parts of the country. Quality management is part of the strategic objectives of the treatment program. We conducted a risk assessment and developed guidelines for the quality management of a schistosomiasis preventive treatment program for children aged 5 years and below in the uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We conducted a scenario planning exercise by interviewing 10 child health experts from the uMkhanyakude Health District to establish potential risks associated with a planned schistosomiasis preventive control treatment program for children aged 5 years old and below. The risks were analyzed using a modified Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). An FMEA table was produced to guide the quality management of the planned schistosomiasis preventive control treatment program for children aged 5 years and below in the uMkhanyakude Health District.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>We identified potential risks, failure modes and possible failure corrective/preventive measures in the following activities that would be part of the mass treatment of children aged 5 years and below infected with schistosomiasis in the uMkhanyakude District. These included enrolment of children into the treatment program; general health checks; weight and height measurements; administration of drugs; reporting of side effects and monitoring and evaluation.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>We were able to use FMEA guide quality management and identify potential risks associated with the planned schistosomiasis preventive treatment program for children aged 5 years old and below in the uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal. The FMEA for this program will be useful to the quality management of schistosomiasis preventive treatment programs for this age group in other similar settings.</p>
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