Table 7.
The most important weights for the influence and intervention indicators.
| Indicator | Mean of Importance Score (±SD) | Coefficient of Variation | Delphi Weight | Entropy Weight | Comprehensive Weight | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwean Experts | Chinese Experts | Other Inter-National Experts | All Experts | |||||
| Primary indicators | ||||||||
| Influencing factors | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.889 (±0.333) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.875 (±0.338) | 0.069 | 0.502 | 0.508 | 0.5050 |
| Intervention measures | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.778 (±0.441) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.833 (±0.381) | 0.079 | 0.498 | 0.492 | 0.4950 |
| Secondary indicators | ||||||||
| Socioeconomic factors | 4.750 (±0.452) | 4.556 (±0.527) | 4.000 (±0.000) | 4.583 (±0.504) | 0.110 | 0.164 | 0.172 | 0.1675 |
| Natural environment | 4.750 (±0.452) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.750 (±0.442) | 0.093 | 0.169 | 0.170 | 0.1696 |
| Biological factors | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.792 (±0.415) | 0.087 | 0.171 | 0.166 | 0.1684 |
| Human behavioral factors | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.778 (±0.441) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.792 (±0.415) | 0.087 | 0.171 | 0.168 | 0.1694 |
| Administrative-level interventions | 4.667 (±0.492) | 4.667 (±0.707) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.667 (±0.565) | 0.121 | 0.166 | 0.166 | 0.1657 |
| Individual-level interventions | 4.667 (±0.888) | 4.222 (±0.667) | 4.333 (±0.577) | 4.458 (±0.779) | 0.175 | 0.160 | 0.159 | 0.1593 |
| Tertiary indicators | ||||||||
| Economic resources | 4.500 (±0.905) | 4.333 (±0.707) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.458 (±0.779) | 0.175 | 0.025 | 0.026 | 0.0255 |
| Population density | 4.500 (±0.798) | 3.667 (±0.707) | 4.000 (±1.000) | 4.125 (±0.850) | 0.206 | 0.023 | 0.025 | 0.0242 |
| Remoteness of residence | 4.000 (±1.595) | 3.667 (±0.866) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 3.958 (±1.268) | 0.320 | 0.022 | 0.022 | 0.0223 |
| Accessibility of healthcare | 4.750 (±0.452) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.750 (±0.442) | 0.093 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0263 |
| Accessibility of safe water | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.875 (±0.338) | 0.069 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0269 |
| Occupational factors | 4.833 (±0.389) | 3.778 (±0.667) | 3.667 (±0.577) | 4.292 (±0.751) | 0.175 | 0.024 | 0.025 | 0.0245 |
| Age | 4.750 (±0.452) | 3.667 (±1.118) | 3.667 (±0.577) | 4.208 (±0.932) | 0.221 | 0.024 | 0.025 | 0.0241 |
| Temperature | 4.750 (±0.452) | 4.222 (±0.833) | 4.333 (±1.155) | 4.500 (±0.722) | 0.161 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.0249 |
| Precipitation | 4.167 (±1.337) | 4.222 (±0.833) | 4.333 (±1.155) | 4.208 (±1.103) | 0.262 | 0.024 | 0.024 | 0.0237 |
| Distance to water bodies | 4.750 (±0.452) | 4.222 (±0.667) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.542 (±0.588) | 0.130 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.0252 |
| Schistosoma species (S. mansoni/S. haematobium) | 4.583 (±0.793) | 4.444 (±0.726) | 4.000 (±1.000) | 4.458 (±0.779) | 0.175 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.0251 |
| Lifespan of adult schistosomes | 4.250 (±1.215) | 3.778 (±1.641) | 3.000 (±1.000) | 3.917 (±1.381) | 0.352 | 0.022 | 0.023 | 0.0224 |
| Number of adult schistosomes | 4.500 (±0.798) | 4.000 (±1.118) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.375 (±0.924) | 0.211 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.0246 |
| Number of schistosome eggs excreted by humans | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.222 (±0.667) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.667 (±0.565) | 0.121 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.0259 |
| Schistosome-contaminated water bodies | 4.667 (±0.651) | 4.556 (±0.527) | 4.333 (±1.155) | 4.583 (±0.654) | 0.143 | 0.026 | 0.028 | 0.0266 |
| Snail species (Biomphalaria/Bulinus) | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.222 (±0.667) | 4.333 (±1.155) | 4.542 (±0.658) | 0.145 | 0.026 | 0.025 | 0.0255 |
| Snail density | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.444 (±0.726) | 4.333 (±0.577) | 4.667 (±0.565) | 0.121 | 0.026 | 0.025 | 0.0255 |
| Miracidia infecting snails | 4.583 (±0.515) | 4.556 (±0.726) | 4.000 (±1.732) | 4.500 (±0.780) | 0.173 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.0251 |
| Snail lifespan | 4.500 (±0.674) | 4.000 (±1.000) | 3.000 (±1.000) | 4.125 (±0.947) | 0.230 | 0.023 | 0.025 | 0.0239 |
| Cercariae released by snails | 4.667 (±0.651) | 4.222 (±0.833) | 4.333 (±1.155) | 4.458 (±0.779) | 0.175 | 0.025 | 0.024 | 0.0247 |
| Cercariae infecting humans | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.000 (±1.732) | 4.667 (±0.702) | 0.150 | 0.026 | 0.025 | 0.0257 |
| Human immunity | 4.750 (±0.452) | 4.111 (±0.928) | 4.333 (±0.577) | 4.458 (±0.721) | 0.162 | 0.025 | 0.026 | 0.0254 |
| Water exposure (infected) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 0.000 | 0.028 | 0.027 | 0.0274 |
| Outdoor defecation/urination | 4.750 (±0.622) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.750 (±0.532) | 0.112 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0262 |
| Improved healthcare system | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.750 (±0.442) | 0.093 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0265 |
| National schistosomiasis control plans | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.778 (±0.441) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.875 (±0.338) | 0.069 | 0.027 | 0.027 | 0.0269 |
| Dedicated funding | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.833 (±0.381) | 0.079 | 0.027 | 0.027 | 0.0270 |
| Schistosomiasis surveillance system | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.833 (±0.381) | 0.079 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0268 |
| Diagnostic capacity | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.778 (±0.441) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.833 (±0.381) | 0.079 | 0.027 | 0.027 | 0.0270 |
| Snail control | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.444 (±0.527) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.667 (±0.482) | 0.103 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.0260 |
| Preventive chemotherapy (including MDA) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.556 (±0.726) | 4.333 (±0.577) | 4.750 (±0.532) | 0.112 | 0.027 | 0.027 | 0.0266 |
| Medication | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.556 (±0.726) | 4.000 (±1.000) | 4.708 (±0.624) | 0.133 | 0.026 | 0.027 | 0.0267 |
| Health education | 4.833 (±0.577) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.750 (±0.532) | 0.112 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0264 |
| WASH implementation | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.792 (±0.415) | 0.087 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0264 |
| Construction of water infrastructure | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.833 (±0.381) | 0.079 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0267 |
| Self-protective behavior | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.556 (±0.527) | 4.333 (±0.577) | 4.708 (±0.464) | 0.099 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.0264 |
| Sanitary toilet usage | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 4.667 (±0.577) | 4.750 (±0.442) | 0.093 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0265 |
| Active healthcare seeking | 4.833 (±0.389) | 4.667 (±0.500) | 3.333 (±1.155) | 4.583 (±0.717) | 0.156 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.0260 |
| Medication adherence | 4.917 (±0.289) | 4.444 (±0.726) | 5.000 (±0.000) | 4.750 (±0.532) | 0.112 | 0.027 | 0.026 | 0.0265 |
SD = standard deviation; WASH = water, sanitation and hygiene; MDA = mass drug administration.