Table 4.
Description of studies investigating the productivity losses associated with onchocerciasis‐associated morbidity (adapted from 62)
| Study | Country | Year | Study design | Population | Sample size | Sequela | Definition of productivity loss | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evans 128 | Guinea | 1995 | Observational (survey) | Household members in a highly endemic area. | 319 | a) Visual impairment | Self‐reported ‘inactive’ occupational status. | a) 38% |
| b) Blindness | b) 79% | |||||||
| Kim et al. 129 | Ethiopia | 1997 | Case‐control | Coffee plantation workers. | 235 | a) OSD (intermediate) | a) Daily wages (individuals infected with OSD (intermediate) vs. those without). | a) 10% |
| b) OSD (severe) | b) Daily wages (individuals infected with OSD (severe) vs. those without). | b) 15% | ||||||
| Okeibunor et al. 130 | Cameroon, DRC, Nigeria, Uganda | 2011 | Observational (cross‐sectional) | Primarily residents from villages where ivermectin distribution was ongoing. | 1600 | General onchocerciasis | a) Increase in productivity from ivermectin treatment. | a) 76% |
| b) Percentage of respondents that referred ability to work better after ivermectin treatment. | b) 75.6% | |||||||
| Oladepo et al. 131 | Nigeria | 1993 | Case‐control | Male farmers. | 102 | OSD | Farm size that a man can keep satisfactorily weeded (workers with vs. without OSD). | 9117 vs. 13 850 m2 (34% loss) |
| Thomson 132 | Cameroon | 1971 | Case‐control | Estate workers in an onchocerciasis endemic area. | 420 | Unspecified (general) | Working days (workers with vs. without onchocerciasis). | 20% |
| Wogu & Okaka 133 | Nigeria | 2008 | Observational (survey) | Rural farming community in a mesoendemic area. | 200 | a) OSD (itching) | a) Percentage of respondents that reported a reduction in strength and concentration at work. | a) 13.5% |
| b) OSD (nodules) | b) Percentage of respondents that reported a decline in sales in business/trading. | b) 11% | ||||||
| c) Visual impairment (ocular lesions) | c) Percentage of respondents that reported giving up jobs (Productivity loss not specified). | c) 14% | ||||||
| Workneh et al. 134 | Ethiopia | 1993 | Case‐control | Male permanent coffee plantation workers. | 196 | OSD | Absenteeism/sick leave and net monthly pay (workers with vs. without OSD). | 25% |
| WHO & World Bank 70 | Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan | 1997 | Case‐control | Households in hyperendemic communities. | 824 | OSD | Time spent on productive activities (individuals with vs. without OSD signs and symptoms). | Not significant |
DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo; OSD, onchocerciasis‐associated skin disease.