Malaria rapid testing by community health workers is effective and safe for targeting malaria treatment: Randomised cross-over trial in Tanzania

Authors

M. Mubi, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
A. Janson, Karolinska Institutet
M. Warsame, Karolinska Institutet
A. Martensson, Karolinska University Hospital
K. Kallander, Karolinska Institutet
M.G. Petzold, Nordic School of Public Health
B. Ngasala, National Institute of Medical Research
G. Maganga, uhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
L.L. Gustafsson, Karolinska Institutet
A. Massele, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
G. Tomson, Karolinska Institutet
Zul Premji, Aga Khan UniverstiyFollow
A. Bjorkman, Karolinska University Hospital

Document Type

Article

Department

Pathology (East Africa)

Abstract

Background: Early diagnosis and prompt, effective treatment of uncomplicated malaria is critical to prevent severe disease, death and malaria transmission. We assessed the impact of rapid malaria diagnostic tests (RDTs) by community health workers (CHWs) on provision of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and health outcome in fever patients.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Twenty-two CHWs from five villages in Kibaha District, a high-malaria transmission area in Coast Region, Tanzania, were trained to manage uncomplicated malaria using RDT aided diagnosis or clinical diagnosis (CD) only. Each CHW was randomly assigned to use either RDT or CD the first week and thereafter alternating weekly. Primary outcome was provision of ACT and main secondary outcomes were referral rates and health status by days 3 and 7. The CHWs enrolled 2930 fever patients during five months of whom 1988 (67.8%) presented within 24 hours of fever onset. ACT was provided to 775 of 1457 (53.2%) patients during RDT weeks and to 1422 of 1473 (96.5%) patients during CD weeks (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.039, 95% CI 0.029-0.053). The CHWs adhered to the RDT results in 1411 of 1457 (96.8%, 95% CI 95.8-97.6) patients. More patients were referred on inclusion day during RDT weeks (10.0%) compared to CD weeks (1.6%). Referral during days 1-7 and perceived non-recovery on days 3 and 7 were also more common after RDT aided diagnosis. However, no fatal or severe malaria occurred among 682 patients in the RDT group who were not treated with ACT, supporting the safety of withholding ACT to RDT negative patients.

Conclusions/Significance: RDTs in the hands of CHWs may safely improve early and well-targeted ACT treatment in malaria patients at community level in Africa.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00301015. © 2011 Mubi et al.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

PLoS ONE

Recommended Citation

Mubi, M., Janson, A., Warsame, M., Martensson, A., Kallander, K., Petzold, M., Ngasala, B., Maganga, G., Gustafsson, L., Massele, A., Tomson, G., Premji, Z., Bjorkman, A. (2011). Malaria rapid testing by community health workers is effective and safe for targeting malaria treatment: Randomised cross-over trial in Tanzania. PLoS ONE, 6(7), 1-8.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_pathol/53