Optimal control problem and cost-effectiveness analysis of schistosomiasis model

In this paper, we study optimal control and cost-effectiveness of several schistosomiasis control strategies. The control strategies investigated are health education, molluscicide use, and the combination of health education and molluscicide intervention. To solve the optimal control problem, we use Pontryagin’s maximum principle. We compute the average cost- effectiveness ratio (ACER) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) to identify the most cost-effective strategy. The results show that the most cost-effective strategy to control schistosomiasis in the region with adequate sanitation is health education intervention. On the other hand, molluscicide intervention is the most cost-effective strategy to control schistosomiasis in the region with inadequate sanitation. Furthermore, the most effective strategy to eliminate schistosomiasis is the combination of health education and molluscicide intervention.