Community engagement in mass drug administration participatory interventions: A scoping review

Community engagement (CE) has been increasingly acknowledged as a pivotal element in the efficacy of mass drug administration (MDA) programs designed to control and eradicate diseases such as malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis. The objective of this scoping review was to evaluate the contribution of community engagement (CE) to participatory interventions for mass drug administration (MDA). A systematic search of six databases yielded 32 articles, spanning 24 MDA interventions across 20 countries, primarily in low- and middle-income settings. The review indicates that most CE initiatives are constrained to passive information dissemination, with a paucity of initiatives that prioritize active community involvement or decision-making. The review identified several key challenges, including a lack of clear definitions for CE, inconsistent objectives, and difficulties in evaluating its effectiveness. Despite evidence that CE can enhance MDA coverage and compliance, the lack of standardized frameworks hinders comprehensive evaluation and comparison across studies. Furthermore, only a minority of interventions involved communities in the design or evaluation stages of MDA programs. The findings emphasize the importance of context-specific approaches, especially in addressing local sociocultural dynamics and including marginalized populations. Future interventions should prioritize sustainable capacity-building and adopt participatory frameworks that promote shared decision-making. Addressing these challenges could enhance the effectiveness of MDA campaigns and improve health outcomes in affected communities.