Community Case Management of Malaria in Urban Africa
Author Information
Author(s): A kweongo Patricia, Agyei-Baffour Peter, Sudhakar Morankar, Simwaka Bertha N, Konaté Amadou T, Adongo Philip B, Browne Edmund NL, Tegegn Ayalew, Ali Doreen, Traoré Abdoulaye, Amuyunzu-Nyamongo Mary, Pagnoni Franco, Barnish Guy
Primary Institution: University of Ghana
Hypothesis
Is community case management of malaria feasible and acceptable in urban settings?
Conclusion
Community case management of malaria in urban areas is feasible and generally accepted by caregivers, although it faces challenges compared to rural settings.
Supporting Evidence
- Caregivers' knowledge of malaria signs improved after the intervention.
- Preference for community medicine distributors increased across all sites.
- 99% of children treated received the correct dose of ACT.
- 54% of children were treated within 24 hours of symptom onset.
Takeaway
This study shows that trained community members can help treat malaria in cities, making it easier for families to get care for their sick children.
Methodology
Pre- and post-implementation studies were conducted in five African cities, involving training community medicine distributors to treat malaria in children under 5.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on caregiver reports and the presence of established healthcare providers.
Limitations
The coverage of community case management in urban areas was lower than in rural settings, and there were competing healthcare providers.
Participant Demographics
Participants included caregivers of children aged 6-59 months in urban settings across Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Malawi.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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