{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T11:12:57Z","timestamp":1789729977459,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,18]],"date-time":"2026-01-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768694400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["TropicalMed"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Eight Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) have been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. WHO recommends that these countries implement post-validation surveillance (PVS) to ensure resurgence has not occurred. Some PICTs proactively conducted LF PVS even in the absence of specific recommendations or best-practice guidelines at the time of implementation. We aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to implementing LF PVS in PICTs, with a view to informing context-specific strategies and regional guidelines. Key informant interviews were held between March and September 2024 with 15 participants involved in LF and\/or neglected tropical disease surveillance. Transcripts were analysed thematically using a generalised deductive approach. A conceptual framework was developed to summarise themes with two main streams of barriers identified. Stream One Barriers included limited awareness of, and guidelines for, PVS requirements and competing national health priorities. Stream Two Barriers included cost, resource, and logistical barriers to conducting PVS. Participants called for clearer, contextually tailored guidelines, improved communication from WHO, and integration within existing systems. This study highlights the urgent need for operational guidance, policy advocacy, and capacity strengthening to ensure sustainable LF PVS in PICTs. Incorporating local context and leveraging existing health structures will be essential to prevent disease resurgence and maintain gains achieved through elimination programmes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed11010027","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,19]],"date-time":"2026-01-19T09:57:02Z","timestamp":1768816622000},"page":"27","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Post-Validation Surveillance of Lymphatic Filariasis in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A Conceptual Framework Developed from Qualitative Data"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9699-8201","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Harriet L. S.","family":"Lawford","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-3559-3055","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Holly","family":"Jian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u2018Ofa","family":"Tukia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Division, Ministry of Health, Nuku\u2019alofa P.O. Box 59, Tonga"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joseph","family":"Takai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Division, Ministry of Health, Nuku\u2019alofa P.O. Box 59, Tonga"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cl\u00e9ment","family":"Couteaux","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wallis and Futuna Health Agency, Mata\u2019utu 98600, Uvea, Wallis and Futuna"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"ChoCho","family":"Thein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health and Human Services, Majuro 96960, Marshall Islands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ken","family":"Jetton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health and Human Services, Majuro 96960, Marshall Islands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Teanibuaka","family":"Tabunga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Bairiki, Tarawa P.O. Box 67, Kiribati"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Temea","family":"Bauro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Bairiki, Tarawa P.O. Box 67, Kiribati"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roger","family":"Nehemia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Te Marae Ora\u2014Ministry of Health, Avarua P.O. Box 109, Cook Islands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Charlie","family":"Ave","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Te Marae Ora\u2014Ministry of Health, Avarua P.O. Box 109, Cook Islands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Grizelda","family":"Mokoia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Niue Public Health Division, Halamahaga Rd, Alofi P.O. Box 40, Niue"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Fetaui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Niue Public Health Division, Halamahaga Rd, Alofi P.O. Box 40, Niue"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fasihah","family":"Taleo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health, Port Vila P.O. Box 177, Vanuatu"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cheryl-Ann","family":"Udui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bureau of Public Health, Palau Ministry of Health, Koror 96940, Palau"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8288-4169","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Colleen L.","family":"Lau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9287-8755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adam T.","family":"Craig","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Riches, N., Badia-Rius, X., Mzilahowa, T., and Kelly-Hope, L.A. 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