Community case management of fever due to malaria and pneumonia in children under five in Zambia: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pneumonia and malaria, two of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five in Zambia, often have overlapping clinical manifestations. Zambia is piloting the use of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) by community health workers (CHWs) to treat uncomplicated malaria. Valid concerns about potential overuse of AL could be addressed by the use of malaria rapid diagnostics employed at the community level. Currently, CHWs in Zambia evaluate and treat children with suspected malaria in rural areas, but they refer children with suspected pneumonia to the nearest health facility. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of using CHWs to manage nonsevere pneumonia and uncomplicated malaria with the aid of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)

SUBMITTER: Yeboah-Antwi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2943441 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature