{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T04:04:58Z","timestamp":1782360298773,"version":"3.54.5"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013485","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]],"date-time":"2025-09-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757635200000}}],"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757289600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100021734","name":"Leprosy Research Initiative","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["11924 1990 RR0001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["11924 1990 RR0001"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100021734","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Effect Hope Canada","award":["11924 1990 RR0001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["11924 1990 RR0001"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a priority in the public health agenda for C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, with persons living with disabilities due to NTDs (PD-NTDs) experiencing many challenges in their daily lives. Current policies do not sufficiently support PD-NTDs, thereby highlighting the need to identify opportunities for policy improvement.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study was carried out in two phases: first to identify the current needs (formative phase) and then to develop a pilot strategy (implementation phase). In the formative phase, pertinent current legislation was reviewed. Then, interviews of PD-NTDs and their caregivers were conducted and analyzed quantitatively. Thematic analysis of focus groups with key community stakeholders was also completed. In the implementation phase, a pilot strategy was developed to address the identified issues.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>172 PD-NTDs and their caregivers were surveyed through this study. 99% of PD-NTDs expressed a need for rehabilitation, healthcare and psychosocial support. More than 80% endorsed the need for healthcare services and free medications, 92% expressed the need for educational services, and 83% reported economic difficulties. Furthermore, 30% of PD-NTDs reported limited awareness of specialized care services available in the community, 25% endorsed limited knowledge of current legislation that protects the rights of people living with disabilities, and 38% faced significant stigma and discrimination within the past 12 months. Fifty-six interviews with key informants further echoed these gaps. A pilot strategy was developed with four pillars to (1) increase community advocacy, (2) combat stigma, (3) promote mutual support among PD-NTDs, and (4) improve the sustainability of the effort. Forty-one out of 49 activities were completed.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This project represents a comprehensive effort to identify policy opportunities to effectively support PD-NTDs. This approach may be used by other organizations that plan to develop initiatives to target the needs of PD-NTDs in their local communities.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013485","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T18:04:28Z","timestamp":1757354668000},"page":"e0013485","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["People-centered strategies to mobilize people living with disabilities due to Neglected Tropical Diseases (PD-NTDs) to influence policy and programs: A mixed-methods study in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-4166-8845","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Julien","family":"Ak\u00e9","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eunheh","family":"Koh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tiembre","family":"Issiaka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Boko-Koiadia Adjoua N\u2019Groma","family":"Nad\u00e8ge","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorou Bi","family":"Maxime","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maneesh","family":"Phillip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Konan Anne","family":"C\u00e9cille","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rie","family":"Yotsu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"pntd.0013485.ref001","unstructured":"Plan national de developpement PND 2021-2025. 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