Use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests by community health workers in Afghanistan: cluster randomised trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends parasitological diagnosis of malaria before treatment, but use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) by community health workers (CHWs) has not been fully tested within health services in south and central Asia. mRDTs could allow CHWs to diagnose malaria accurately, improving treatment of febrile illness.

Methods

A cluster randomised trial in community health services was undertaken in Afghanistan. The primary outcome was the proportion of suspected malaria cases correctly treated for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed malaria and PCR negative cases receiving no antimalarial drugs measured at the level of the patient. CHWs from 22 clusters (clinics) received standard training on clinical diagnosis and treat

SUBMITTER: Leslie T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5501368 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature