COSTECH Integrated Repository

Increased Use of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests Improves Targeting Of Anti-Malarial Treatment in Rural Tanzania: Implications for Nationwide Rollout of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Show simple item record

dc.creator Masanja, Irene M.
dc.creator Selemani, Majige
dc.creator Amuri, Mbaraka
dc.creator Dan, Kajungu
dc.creator Khatib, Rashid A.
dc.creator Kachur, Patrick S.
dc.creator Skarbinski, Jacek
dc.date 2016-07-08T12:20:12Z
dc.date 2016-07-08T12:20:12Z
dc.date 2012-07
dc.date.accessioned 2018-03-27T09:13:24Z
dc.date.available 2018-03-27T09:13:24Z
dc.identifier Masanja, I.M., Selemani, M., Amuri, B., Kajungu, D., Khatib, R., Kachur, S.P. and Skarbinski, J., 2012. Increased use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests improves targeting of anti-malarial treatment in rural Tanzania: implications for nationwide rollout of malaria rapid diagnostic tests. Malaria journal, 11(1), p.1.
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/2913
dc.identifier 10.1186/1475-2875-11-221 · Source: PubMed
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/2913
dc.description he World Health Organization recommends parasitological confirmation of all malaria cases. Tanzania is implementing a phased rollout of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for routine use in all levels of care as one strategy to increase parasitological confirmation of malaria diagnosis. This study was carried out to evaluated artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) prescribing patterns in febrile patients with and without uncomplicated malaria in one pre-RDT implementation and one post-RDT implementation area. A cross-sectional health facility surveys was conducted during high and low malaria transmission seasons in 2010 in both areas. Clinical information and a reference blood film on all patients presenting for an initial illness consultation were collected. Malaria was defined as a history of fever in the past 48 h and microscopically confirmed parasitaemia. Routine diagnostic testing was defined as RDT or microscopy ordered by the health worker and performed at the health facility as part of the health worker-patient consultation. Correct diagnostic testing was defined as febrile patient tested with RDT or microscopy. Over-testing was defined as a non-febrile patient tested with RDT or microscopy. Correct treatment was defined as patient with malaria prescribed ACT. Over-treatment was defined as patient without malaria prescribed ACT. A total of 1,247 febrile patients (627 from pre-implementation area and 620 from post-implementation area) were included in the analysis. In the post-RDT implementation area, 80.9% (95% CI, 68.2-89.3) of patients with malaria received recommended treatment with ACT compared to 70.3% (95% CI, 54.7-82.2) of patients in the pre-RDT implementation area. Correct treatment was significantly higher in the post-implementation area during high transmission season (85.9% (95%CI, 72.0-93.6) compared to 58.3% (95%CI, 39.4-75.1) in pre-implementation area (p = 0.01). Over-treatment with ACT of patients without malaria was less common in the post-RDT implementation area (20.9%; 95% CI, 14.7-28.8) compared to the pre-RDT implementation area (45.8%; 95% CI, 37.2-54.6) (p < 0.01) in high transmission. The odds of overtreatment was significantly lower in post- RDT area (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR: 95%CI) 0.57(0.36-0.89); and much higher with clinical diagnosis adjusted OR (95%CI) 2.24(1.37-3.67) Implementation of RDTs increased use of RDTs for parasitological confirmation and reduced over-treatment with ACT during high malaria transmission season in one area in Tanzania. Continued monitoring of the national RDT rollout will be needed to assess whether these changes in case management practices will be replicated in other areas and sustained over time. Additional measures (such as refresher trainings, closer supervisions, etc.) may be needed to improve ACT targeting during low transmission seasons.
dc.language en
dc.subject Malaria rapid diagnostic tests
dc.subject ACT
dc.subject HDSS
dc.subject INDEPTH network
dc.subject Tanzania
dc.title Increased Use of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests Improves Targeting Of Anti-Malarial Treatment in Rural Tanzania: Implications for Nationwide Rollout of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests
dc.type Journal Article, Peer Reviewed


Files in this item

Files Size Format View

There are no files associated with this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search COSTECH


Advanced Search

Browse

My Account