Modeling the "F" in "SAFE": The dynamic game of facial cleanliness in trachoma prevention.

ABSTRACT: Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTDs) caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is a leading cause of infectious blindness. Efforts are underway to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem by using the "SAFE" strategy. While mathematical models are now standard tools used to support elimination efforts and there are a variety of models studying different aspects of trachoma transmission dynamics, the "F" component of the strategy corresponding to facial cleanliness has received very little attention so far. In this paper, we incorporate human behavior into a standard epidemiological model and develop a dynamical game during which individuals practice facial cleanliness based on their epidemiological status and perceived benefits and costs. We found that the number of infectio

SUBMITTER: Barazanji M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10289400 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature