Infectious Diseases of Poverty
[Accessed 2 August 2014]
http://www.idpjournal.com/content

Scoping Review
Tackling the existing burden of infectious diseases in the developing world: existing gaps and way forward
Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Rehana A Salam, Jai K Das and Zohra S Lassi
Author Affiliations
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2014, 3:28 doi:10.1186/2049-9957-3-28
Published: 1 August 2014
Abstract (provisional)
This series evaluates the effectiveness of community-based interventions (CBIs) to prevent and control infectious diseases of poverty (IDoP). Evidence from our reviews suggests that CBIs and school-based delivery platforms are effective in averting risk behaviors and reducing the disease burden. Co-implementation of interventions through existing community-based programs including immunization campaigns, antenatal care (ANT), and maternal and child health programs have the potential to scale-up interventions for IDoP. Future research should focus on the process of developing and implementing efficient community-based programs through a comprehensive approach, and to gauge the effectiveness of various existing delivery models in order to improve morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Scoping Review
The conceptual framework and assessment methodology for the systematic reviews of community-based interventions for the prevention and control of infectious diseases of poverty
Zohra S Lassi, Rehana A Salam, Jai K Das and Zulfiqar A Bhutta
Author Affiliations
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2014, 3:22 doi:10.1186/2049-9957-3-22
Published: 31 July 2014
Abstract (provisional)
This paper describes the conceptual framework and the methodology used to guide the systematic reviews of community-based interventions (CBIs) for the prevention and control of infectious diseases of poverty (IDoPs). We adapted the conceptual framework from the 3ie work on the ‘Community-Based Intervention Packages for Preventing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality and Improving Neonatal Outcomes’ to aid in the analyzing of the existing CBIs for IDoPs. The conceptual framework revolves around objectives, inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes, and impacts showing the theoretical linkages between the delivery of the interventions targeting these diseases through various community delivery platforms and the consequent health impacts. We also describe the methodology undertaken to conduct the systematic reviews and the meta-analyses.

Scoping Review
Global burden, distribution, and interventions for infectious diseases of poverty
Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Johannes Sommerfeld, Zohra S Lassi, Rehana A Salam and Jai K Das
Author Affiliations
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2014, 3:21 doi:10.1186/2049-9957-3-21
Published: 31 July 2014
Abstract (provisional)
Infectious diseases of poverty (IDoPs) disproportionately affect the poorest populations in the world and contribute to a cycle of poverty as a result of decreased productivity ensuing from long-term illness, disability, and social stigma. In 2010, the global deaths from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have increased to 1.5 million, and malaria mortality rose to 1.17 million. Mortality from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) rose to 152,000, while tuberculosis (TB) killed 1.2 million people that same year. Substantial regional variations exist in the distribution of these diseases as they are primarily concentrated in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with geographic overlap and high levels of co-infection. Evidence-based interventions exist to prevent and control these diseases, however, the coverage still remains low with an emerging challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, community-based delivery platforms are increasingly being advocated to ensure sustainability and combat co-infections.Because of the high morbidity and mortality burden of these diseases, especially in resource-poor settings, it is imperative to conduct a systematic review to identify strategies to prevent and control these diseases. Therefore, we have attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of one of these strategies, that is community-based delivery for the prevention and treatment of IDoPs. In this paper, we describe the burden, epidemiology, and potential interventions for IDoPs. In subsequent papers of this series, we describe the analytical framework and the methodology used to guide the systematic reviews, and report the findings and interpretations of our analyses of the impact of community-based strategies on individual IDoPs.