Community Coverage of Antimalarial Treatment in Burundi
Author Information
Author(s): Sibylle Gerstl, Sandra Cohuet, Kodjo Edoh, Christopher Brasher, Alexandre Lesage, Jean-Paul Guthmann, Francesco Checchi
Primary Institution: Epicentre, Paris, France
Hypothesis
Are children under five in Makamba Province receiving the new antimalarial treatment AS+AQ after its introduction?
Conclusion
AS+AQ was the most common treatment for probable malaria cases at public health centres, but the coverage was low due to low health centre utilization and inappropriate prescribing.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 14.1% of probable malaria cases received AS+AQ treatment.
- 41% of children received non-malaria treatments.
- Most caregivers were unaware of the need for prompt treatment.
Takeaway
The study looked at whether young children in Burundi were getting the right medicine for malaria. It found that many didn't get treated properly.
Methodology
A community-based study was conducted with randomly selected households containing children under five with reported fever, assessing treatment coverage of AS+AQ.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to caregiver recall and misinterpretation of symptoms.
Limitations
The study was conducted in only one province, limiting generalizability to the entire country.
Participant Demographics
Children under five years of age, with a median age of 2.3 years; caregivers were mostly illiterate subsistence farmers.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95%CI 3.8–15.0
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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