Low Referral Completion in Malaria Treatment in Sierra Leone
Author Information
Author(s): Anna Thomson, Mohammed Khogali, Martin de Smet, Tony Reid, Ahmed Mukhtar, Stefan Peterson, Johan von Schreeb
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Hypothesis
What is the referral rate and compliance of patients referred by Community Malaria Volunteers in Sierra Leone?
Conclusion
The study found that RDT-negative patients with fever had a very low rate of referral completion, raising concerns about the adequacy of care provided by Community Malaria Volunteers.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 1.5% of referred patients completed their referral.
- Referral completion varied significantly between patients with negative RDTs and those with severe malaria.
- The study highlighted the need for improved strategies to enhance referral compliance.
Takeaway
Most patients who were told to go to the hospital after testing negative for malaria didn't actually go, which is a big problem for treating malaria in the community.
Methodology
A retrospective analysis of referral records from Community Malaria Volunteers over three months.
Potential Biases
Potential misinterpretation of data due to reliance on record reviews and limited supervision.
Limitations
The short study duration and low number of referral completions limited the analysis of outcomes and timeliness.
Participant Demographics
The study included febrile children aged 3-59 months and pregnant women in their second or third trimester.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.010
Confidence Interval
0.006 - 0.015
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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