The impact of providing rapid diagnostic malaria tests on fever management in the private retail sector in Ghana: a cluster randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the impact of providing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria on fever management in private drug retail shops where most poor rural people with fever present, with the aim of reducing current massive overdiagnosis and overtreatment of malaria.

Design

Cluster randomized trial of 24 clusters of shops.

Setting

Dangme West, a poor rural district of Ghana.

Participants

Shops and their clients, both adults and children.

Interventions

Providing rapid diagnostic tests with realistic training.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was the proportion of clients testing negative for malaria by a double-read research blood slide who received an artemisinin combination therapy or other antimalarial. Secondary outcomes were use of antibio

SUBMITTER: Ansah EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4353311 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature