Introducing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria into registered drug shops in Uganda: lessons learned and policy implications.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria is a major public health problem in Uganda and the current policy recommends introduction of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (RDTs) to facilitate effective case management. However, provision of RDTs in drug shops potentially raises a new set of issues, such as adherence to RDTs results, management of severe illnesses, referral of patients, and relationship with caretakers. The main objective of the study was to examine the impact of introducing RDTs in registered drug shops in Uganda and document lessons and policy implications for future scale-up of malaria control in the private health sector.

Methods

A cluster-randomized trial introducing RDTs into registered drug shops was implemented in central Uganda from October 2010 to July 2012. An evaluation

SUBMITTER: Mbonye AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4647310 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature