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Khalid Mohamed S, Khalid Mohamed D, Ahmed K, Saad F, Zurovac D. Health workers' adherence to malaria case management protocols in Northern Sudan: a qualitative study. Malar J 2024; 23:170. [PMID: 38816778 PMCID: PMC11137897 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonadherence to national standards for malaria diagnosis and treatment has been reported in Sudan. In this study, qualitative research examined the clinical domains of nonadherence, factors influencing nonadherent practices and health workers' views on how to improve adherence. METHODS In September 2023, five Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were undertaken with 104 health workers from 42 health facilities in Sudan's Northern State. The participants included medical assistants, doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, pharmacists and public health officers. The FGDs followed a semi-structured guide reflecting the national malaria case management protocol. Qualitative thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS Nonadherent practices included disregarding parasitological test results, suboptimal paediatric artemether-lumefantrine (AL) dosing, lack of counselling, use of prohibited artemether injections for uncomplicated and severe malaria, artesunate dose approximations and suboptimal preparations, lack of AL follow on treatment for severe malaria; and rare use of primaquine for radical Plasmodium vivax treatment and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as the second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Factors influencing nonadherence included stock-outs of anti-malarials and RDTs; staff shortages; lack of training, job aids and supervision; malpractice by specialists; distrust of malaria microscopy and RDTs; and patient pressure for diagnosis and treatment. Health workers recommended strengthening the supply chain; hiring personnel; providing in-service protocol training including specialists; establishing external quality assurance for malaria diagnosis; and providing onsite supportive supervision and public health campaigns. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a broad spectrum of behavioural and systemic challenges in malaria management among frontline health workers in Northern Sudan, including nonadherence to protocols due to resource shortages, training gaps, a lack of supportive supervision and patient pressure. These insights, including health workers' views about improvements, will inform evidence-based interventions by Sudan's National Malaria Control Programme to improve health systems readiness and the quality of malaria case management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Khalid Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | - Duha Khalid Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Khansaa Ahmed
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Fadwa Saad
- National Malaria Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
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Liu Q, Wang Y, Deng J, Yan W, Qin C, Du M, Liu M, Liu J. Association of temperature and precipitation with malaria incidence in 57 countries and territories from 2000 to 2019: A worldwide observational study. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04021. [PMID: 38385445 PMCID: PMC10882640 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The transmission of malaria is known to be affected by climatic factors. However, existing studies on the impact of temperature and precipitation on malaria incidence offer no clear-cut conclusions, and there is a lack of research on a global scale. We aimed to estimate the association of temperature and precipitation with malaria incidence globally from 2000 to 2019. Methods We used meteorological data from the National Centers for Environmental Information and malaria incidence data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 to calculate effect sizes through quasi-Poisson generalised linear models while controlling for confounders. Results 231.4 million malaria cases occurred worldwide in 2019. National annual average temperature and precipitation were associated with malaria incidence, with an increase in the age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) of 2.01% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.00, 2.02) and 6.04% (95% CI = 6.00, 6.09) following one unit increase of national annual average temperature and precipitation. In subgroup analysis, we found that malaria incidence in Asian countries was most affected by temperature, while the incidence in African countries was most affected by precipitation (P < 0.05). Stratified by age, children under five were most affected by both temperature and precipitation (P < 0.05). We additionally found that the impact of the national annual average temperature on malaria incidence increased over time (P < 0.05). Conclusions We advocate for a comprehensive approach to malaria prevention, focussed on addressing the impact of climate factors through international collaboration, adaptive measures, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenxin Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenyuan Qin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Du
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Jue Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Haidian District, Beijing, China
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
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Amboko B, Stepniewska K, Machini B, Bejon P, Snow RW, Zurovac D. Factors influencing health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria 'test and treat' guidelines during the plateauing performance phase in Kenya, 2014-2016. Malar J 2022; 21:68. [PMID: 35241074 PMCID: PMC8895910 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04093-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Health workers’ compliance with outpatient malaria ‘test and treat’ guidelines has improved since 2010 but plateaued from 2014 at suboptimal levels in Kenya. This study examined the factors associated with high but suboptimal compliance levels at facilities with available malaria tests and drugs. Methods Data from four national, cross-sectional health facility surveys undertaken between 2014 and 2016 in Kenya were analysed. Association between 31 factors and compliance with malaria testing (survey range (SR): 65–69%) and no anti-malarial treatment for test negative patients (SR: 90–92%) were examined using multilevel logistic regression models. Results A total of 2,752 febrile patients seen by 594 health workers at 486 health facilities were analysed. Higher odds of malaria testing were associated with lake endemic (aOR = 12.12; 95% CI: 5.3–27.6), highland epidemic (aOR = 5.06; 95% CI: 2.7–9.5) and semi-arid seasonal (aOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.2–3.6) compared to low risk areas; faith-based (FBO)/ non-governmental organization (NGO)-owned compared to government-owned facilities (aOR = 5.80; 95% CI: 3.2–10.6); health workers’ perception of malaria endemicity as high-risk (aOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.8–5.2); supervision with feedback (aOR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.2–2.9); access to guidelines (aOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.1–3.4); older patients compared to infants, higher temperature measurements and main complaints of fever, diarrhoea, headache, vomiting and chills. Lower odds of testing were associated with febrile patients having main complaints of a cough (aOR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9), a rash (aOR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.2–0.7) or a running nose (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.4–0.9). Other factors associated with compliance with test negative results included the type of diagnostic test available at the facility, in-service training, health workers’ age, and correct knowledge of the targeted treatment policy. Conclusions To optimize outpatient malaria case-management, reduce testing compliance gaps and eliminate overtreatment of test negative patients, there is a need to focus on compliance within low malaria risk areas in addition to ensuring the universal and continuous availability of ‘test and treat’ commodities. Targeting of older and government health workers; dissemination of updated guidelines; and continuing with in-service training and supportive supervision with feedback is essential. Lastly, there is a need to improve health workers’ knowledge about malaria testing criteria considering their perceptions of endemicity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-022-04093-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Amboko
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Kasia Stepniewska
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatrice Machini
- Division of National Malaria Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert W Snow
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dejan Zurovac
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Amboko B, Stepniewska K, Malla L, Machini B, Bejon P, Snow RW, Zurovac D. Determinants of improvement trends in health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines at health facilities with available "test and treat" commodities in Kenya. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259020. [PMID: 34739519 PMCID: PMC8570506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines has been improving in Africa. This study examined the factors associated with the improvements. METHODS Data from 11 national, cross-sectional health facility surveys undertaken from 2010-2016 were analysed. Association between 31 determinants and improvement trends in five outpatient compliance outcomes were examined using interactions between each determinant and time in multilevel logistic regression models and reported as an adjusted odds ratio of annual trends (T-aOR). RESULTS Among 9,173 febrile patients seen at 1,208 health facilities and by 1,538 health workers, a higher annual improvement trend in composite "test and treat" performance was associated with malaria endemicity-lake endemic (T-aOR = 1.67 annually; p<0.001) and highland epidemic (T-aOR = 1.35; p<0.001) zones compared to low-risk zone; with facilities stocking rapid diagnostic tests only (T-aOR = 1.49; p<0.001) compared to microscopy only services; with faith-based/non-governmental facilities compared to government-owned (T-aOR = 1.15; p = 0.036); with a daily caseload of >25 febrile patients (T-aOR = 1.46; p = 0.003); and with under-five children compared to older patients (T-aOR = 1.07; p = 0.013). Other factors associated with the improvement trends in the "test and treat" policy components and artemether-lumefantrine administration at the facility included the absence of previous RDT stock-outs, community health workers dispensing drugs, access to malaria case-management and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines, health workers' gender, correct health workers' knowledge about the targeted malaria treatment policy, and patients' main complaint of fever. The odds of compliance at the baseline were variable for some of the factors. CONCLUSIONS Targeting of low malaria risk areas, low caseload facilities, male and government health workers, continuous availability of RDTs, improving health workers' knowledge about the policy considering age and fever, and dissemination of guidelines might improve compliance with malaria guidelines. For prompt treatment and administration of the first artemether-lumefantrine dose at the facility, task-shifting duties to community health workers can be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kasia Stepniewska
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lucas Malla
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Beatrice Machini
- Division of National Malaria Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Snow
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dejan Zurovac
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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5
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Fomba S, Koné D, Doumbia B, Diallo D, Druetz T, Florey L, Eisele TP, Eckert E, Mihigo J, Ashton RA. Management of uncomplicated malaria among children under five years at public and private sector facilities in Mali. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1888. [PMID: 33298011 PMCID: PMC7724888 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prompt and effective malaria diagnosis and treatment is a cornerstone of malaria control. Case management guidelines recommend confirmatory testing of suspected malaria cases, then prescription of specific drugs for uncomplicated malaria and for severe malaria. This study aims to describe case management practices for children aged 1–59 months seeking treatment with current or recent fever from public and private, rural and urban health providers in Mali. Methods Data were collected at sites in Sikasso Region and Bamako. Health workers recorded key information from the consultation including malaria diagnostic testing and result, their final diagnosis, and all drugs prescribed. Children with signs of severe diseases were ineligible. Consultations were not independently observed. Appropriate case management was defined as both 1) tested for malaria using rapid diagnostic test or microscopy, and 2) receiving artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) and no other antimalarials if test-positive, or receiving no antimalarials if test-negative. Results Of 1602 participating children, 23.7% were appropriately managed, ranging from 5.3% at public rural facilities to 48.4% at community health worker sites. The most common reason for ‘inappropriate’ management was lack of malaria diagnostic testing (50.4% of children). Among children with confirmed malaria, 50.8% received a non-ACT antimalarial (commonly artesunate injection or artemether), either alone or in combination with ACT. Of 215 test-negative children, 44.2% received an antimalarial drug, most commonly ACT. Prescription of multiple drugs was common: 21.7% of all children received more than one type of antimalarial, while 51.9% received an antibiotic and antimalarial. Inappropriate case management increased in children with increasing axillary temperatures and those seeking care over weekends. Conclusions Multiple limitations in management of febrile children under five were identified, including inconsistent use of confirmatory testing and apparent use of severe malaria drugs for uncomplicated malaria. While we cannot confirm the reasons for these shortcomings, there is a need to address the high use of non-ACT antimalarials in this context; to minimize potential for drug resistance, reduce unnecessary expense, and preserve life-saving treatment for severe malaria cases. These findings highlight the challenge of managing febrile illness in young children in a high transmission setting. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-020-09873-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seydou Fomba
- Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, Bamako, Mali
| | - Diakalia Koné
- Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, Bamako, Mali
| | | | | | - Thomas Druetz
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lia Florey
- President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Thomas P Eisele
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Erin Eckert
- President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA.,RTI International, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jules Mihigo
- President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Bamako, Mali
| | - Ruth A Ashton
- MEASURE Evaluation, Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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6
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Amboko B, Stepniewska K, Macharia PM, Machini B, Bejon P, Snow RW, Zurovac D. Trends in health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines across malaria epidemiological zones in Kenya, 2010-2016. Malar J 2020; 19:406. [PMID: 33176783 PMCID: PMC7659071 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03479-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines has been improving, specifically regarding the universal testing of suspected cases and the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) only for positive results (i.e., 'test and treat'). Whether the improvements in compliance with 'test and treat' guidelines are consistent across different malaria endemicity areas has not been examined. METHODS Data from 11 national, cross-sectional, outpatient malaria case-management surveys undertaken in Kenya from 2010 to 2016 were analysed. Four primary indicators (i.e., 'test and treat') and eight secondary indicators of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) dosing, dispensing, and counselling were measured. Mixed logistic regression models were used to analyse the annual trends in compliance with the indicators across the different malaria endemicity areas (i.e., from highest to lowest risk being lake endemic, coast endemic, highland epidemic, semi-arid seasonal transmission, and low risk). RESULTS Compliance with all four 'test and treat' indicators significantly increased in the area with the highest malaria risk (i.e., lake endemic) as follows: testing of febrile patients (OR = 1.71 annually; 95% CI = 1.51-1.93), AL treatment for test-positive patients (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.26-1.92), no anti-malarial for test-negative patients (OR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.65-2.54), and composite 'test and treat' compliance (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.61-2.01). In the low risk areas, only compliance with test-negative results significantly increased (OR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.61-3.19) while testing of febrile patients showed declining trends (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.79-1.01). Administration of the first AL dose at the facility significantly increased in the areas of lake endemic (OR = 2.33; 95% CI = 1.76-3.10), coast endemic (OR = 5.02; 95% CI = 2.77-9.09) and semi-arid seasonal transmission (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.02-2.04). In areas of the lowest risk of transmission and highland epidemic zone, none of the AL dosing, dispensing, and counselling tasks significantly changed over time. CONCLUSIONS There is variability in health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines across different malaria-risk areas in Kenya. Major improvements in areas of the highest risk have not been seen in low-risk areas. Interventions to improve practices should be targeted geographically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Amboko
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Kasia Stepniewska
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter M Macharia
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Beatrice Machini
- Division of National Malaria Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert W Snow
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dejan Zurovac
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Kamau A, Mtanje G, Mataza C, Malla L, Bejon P, Snow RW. The relationship between facility-based malaria test positivity rate and community-based parasite prevalence. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240058. [PMID: 33027313 PMCID: PMC7540858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria surveillance is a key pillar in the control of malaria in Africa. The value of using routinely collected data from health facilities to define malaria risk at community levels remains poorly defined. METHODS Four cross-sectional parasite prevalence surveys were undertaken among residents at 36 enumeration zones in Kilifi county on the Kenyan coast and temporally and spatially matched to fever surveillance at 6 health facilities serving the same communities over 12 months. The age-structured functional form of the relationship between test positivity rate (TPR) and community-based parasite prevalence (PR) was explored through the development of regression models fitted by alternating the linear, exponential and polynomial terms for PR. The predictive ranges of TPR were explored for PR endemicity risk groups of control programmatic value using cut-offs of low (PR <5%) and high (PR ≥ 30%) transmission intensity. RESULTS Among 28,134 febrile patients encountered for malaria diagnostic testing in the health facilities, 12,143 (43.2%: 95% CI: 42.6%, 43.7%) were positive. The overall community PR was 9.9% (95% CI: 9.2%, 10.7%) among 6,479 participants tested for malaria. The polynomial model was the best fitting model for the data that described the algebraic relationship between TPR and PR. In this setting, a TPR of ≥ 49% in all age groups corresponded to an age-standardized PR of ≥ 30%, while a TPR of < 40% corresponded to an age-standardized PR of < 5%. CONCLUSION A non-linear relationship was observed between the relative change in TPR and changes in the PR, which is likely to have important implications for malaria surveillance programs, especially at the extremes of transmission. However, larger, more spatially diverse data series using routinely collected TPR data matched to community-based infection prevalence data are required to explore the more practical implications of using TPR as a replacement for community PR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Kamau
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Grace Mtanje
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Christine Mataza
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Ministry of Health, Kilifi County Government, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lucas Malla
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Snow
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Thwing J, Camara A, Candrinho B, Zulliger R, Colborn J, Painter J, Plucinski MM. A Robust Estimator of Malaria Incidence from Routine Health Facility Data. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 102:811-820. [PMID: 31833469 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Routine incident malaria case data have become a pillar of malaria surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa. These data provide granular, timely information to track malaria burden. However, incidence data are sensitive to changes in care seeking rates, rates of testing of suspect cases, and reporting completeness. Based on a set of assumptions, we derived a simple algebraic formula to convert crude incidence rates to a corrected estimation of incidence, adjusting for biases in variable and suboptimal rates of care seeking, testing of suspect cases, and reporting completeness. We applied the correction to routine incidence data from Guinea and Mozambique, and aggregate data for sub-Saharan African countries from the World Malaria Report. We calculated continent-wide needs for malaria tests and treatments, assuming universal testing but current care seeking rates. Countries in southern and eastern Africa reporting recent increases in malaria incidence generally had lower overall corrected incidence than countries in Central and West Africa. Under current care seeking rates, the unmet need for malaria tests was estimated to be 160 million (M) (interquartile range [IQR]: 139-188) and for malaria treatments to be 37 M (IQR: 29-51). Maps of corrected incidence were more consistent with maps of community survey prevalence than was crude incidence in Guinea and Mozambique. Crude malaria incidence rates need to be interpreted in the context of suboptimal testing and care seeking rates, which vary over space and time. Adjusting for these factors can provide insight into the spatiotemporal trends of malaria burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Thwing
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alioune Camara
- National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Health, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Baltazar Candrinho
- National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Rose Zulliger
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maputo, Mozambique.,Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - James Colborn
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - John Painter
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.,Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mateusz M Plucinski
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.,Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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9
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Alegana VA, Okiro EA, Snow RW. Routine data for malaria morbidity estimation in Africa: challenges and prospects. BMC Med 2020; 18:121. [PMID: 32487080 PMCID: PMC7268363 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01593-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa remains challenging to measure relying on epidemiological modelling to evaluate the impact of investments and providing an in-depth analysis of progress and trends in malaria response globally. In malaria-endemic countries of Africa, there is increasing use of routine surveillance data to define national strategic targets, estimate malaria case burdens and measure control progress to identify financing priorities. Existing research focuses mainly on the strengths of these data with less emphasis on existing challenges and opportunities presented. CONCLUSION Here we define the current imperfections common to routine malaria morbidity data at national levels and offer prospects into their future use to reflect changing disease burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor A Alegana
- Population Health Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
- Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LAI 4YW, UK.
| | - Emelda A Okiro
- Population Health Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Robert W Snow
- Population Health Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 43640, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
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Davlantes E, Camara A, Guilavogui T, Fofana A, Balde M, Diallo T, Bah I, Florey L, Sarr A, Butts J, Plucinski MM. Quality of Malaria Case Management and Reporting at Public Health Facilities in Six Health Districts in Guinea, 2018. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:148-156. [PMID: 31074408 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Data on fever and malaria cases reported by health facilities are used for tracking incidence and quantification of malaria commodity needs in Guinea. Periodic assessments of the quality of malaria case management and routine data are a critical activity for the malaria program. In May-June 2018, survey teams visited 126 health facilities in six health districts purposefully selected to represent a spectrum (Stratum 1-high, Stratum 2-intermediate, and Stratum 3-low) of perceived quality of case management and reporting, as assessed from an a priori analysis of routine data. Surveyors performed exit interviews with 939 outpatients and compared results with registry data for interviewed patients. Availability of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) was 100% in Strata 1 and 2, compared with 82% (95% CI: 63-92%) for RDTs and 86% (68-95%) for any formulation of ACT in Stratum 3. Correct case management for suspect malaria cases was 85% in both Stratum 1 (95% CI: 78-90%) and Stratum 2 (79-89%), but only 52% (37-67%) in Stratum 3. Concordance between exit interviews and registry entries for key malaria indicators was significantly higher in Strata 1 and 2 than in Stratum 3. Both adherence to national guidelines for testing and treatment and data quality were high in Strata 1 and 2, but substandard in Stratum 3. The survey results reflected the trends seen in the routine data, suggesting that analysis of routine data can identify areas requiring more attention to improve malaria case management and reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Davlantes
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.,Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lia Florey
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Abdoulaye Sarr
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Conakry, Guinea.,Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica Butts
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.,Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mateusz M Plucinski
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.,U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Candrinho B, Plucinski MM, Colborn JM, da Silva M, Mathe G, Dimene M, Chico AR, Castel-Branco AC, Brito F, Andela M, Ponce de Leon G, Saifodine A, Zulliger R. Quality of malaria services offered in public health facilities in three provinces of Mozambique: a cross-sectional study. Malar J 2019; 18:162. [PMID: 31060605 PMCID: PMC6503352 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2796-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fever associated with malaria is the leading cause of health care-seeking in Mozambique, yet there is limited evidence on the quality of malaria case management. This study evaluated the quality of malaria service provision offered in public health facilities in Mozambique. METHODS A cross-sectional assessment was conducted in April-May 2018 in three provinces of Mozambique: Maputo Province (low malaria burden), Cabo Delgado (high), and Zambézia (high). The study included all secondary and tertiary facilities and a random sample of primary facilities in each province. Data collection included exit interviews and re-examinations of 20 randomly selected outpatient service patients, interviews with up to five health care providers and the health facility director, a stockroom inventory and routine data abstraction. RESULTS A total of 319 health care providers and 1840 patients from 117 health facilities were included. Of these, 1325 patients (72%) had suspected malaria (fever/history of fever) and 550 (30%) had febrile, confirmed malaria with the highest burden in Cabo Delgado (43%), followed by Zambézia (34%) and Maputo Province (2%). Appropriate management of malaria cases, defined as testing malaria suspects and treating confirmed cases with the correct dose of anti-malarial, was highest in Zambézia and Cabo Delgado where 52% (95% CI 42-62) and 49% (42-57) of febrile malaria cases were appropriately managed, respectively. Only 14% (5-34) of febrile cases in Maputo Province were appropriately managed. The biggest gap in the malaria case management pathway was failure to test febrile patients, with only 46% of patients with this indication tested for malaria in Maputo Province. Additionally, anti-malarial treatment of patients with a negative malaria test result was common, ranging from 8% (2-23) in Maputo Province to 22% (14-32) of patients with a negative test in Zambézia. Only 58-62% of patients prescribed an anti-malarial correctly recited dosing instructions. Provider training and malaria knowledge was low outside of Zambézia and supervision rates were low in all provinces. Factors associated with correct case management varied by province and included patient age, facility type, treatment and testing availability, supervision, and training. CONCLUSION These findings underscore the need to strengthen provider testing of all patients with fever, provider adherence to negative test results, and effective counselling of patients across epidemiological settings in Mozambique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baltazar Candrinho
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Mateusz M Plucinski
- United States President's Malaria Initiative, Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Mariana da Silva
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Guidion Mathe
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Mercia Dimene
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | | | | | - Marcel Andela
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Gabriel Ponce de Leon
- United States President's Malaria Initiative, Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abuchahama Saifodine
- United States President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Rose Zulliger
- United States President's Malaria Initiative, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maputo, Mozambique.
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