BACKGROUND: Home-based management of malaria (HMM) may improve access to diagnostic testing and treatment with artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). In the Sahel region, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is now recommended for the prevention of malaria in children. It is likely that combinations of antimalarial interventions can reduce the malaria burden. This study assessed the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of combining SMC and HMM delivered by community health workers (CHWs). METHODS: A cluster-randomised trial was carried out during two transmission seasons in eight villages located in the south-eastern part of Senegal. Intervention communities received HMM+SMC while control communities received HMM. Primary end point was the incidence of malaria attacks during the follow up period. Secondary end points included: malaria diagnostic accuracy; access to ACT treatment; SMC coverage; safety and drug tolerability. RESULTS: The adjusted rate ratio for incidence of malaria attacks in intervention and control communities was 0.15, indicating a protective effect of HMM+SMC of 85% (95% CI: 39.9-96.3%, p=0.01). Access to ACT treatment was 96.4% while SMC coverage represented 97.3% (95% CI: 91.3-100%) in 2010, and 88.8% (95% CI: 84.2-93.6%) in 2011. No serious adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION: It seems feasible and safe to combine SMC with HMM intervention, while achieving high coverage and effectiveness of both SMC and HMM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (www.pactr.org) PACTR201305000551876.
BACKGROUND: Home-based management of malaria (HMM) may improve access to diagnostic testing and treatment with artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). In the Sahel region, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is now recommended for the prevention of malaria in children. It is likely that combinations of antimalarial interventions can reduce the malaria burden. This study assessed the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of combining SMC and HMM delivered by community health workers (CHWs). METHODS: A cluster-randomised trial was carried out during two transmission seasons in eight villages located in the south-eastern part of Senegal. Intervention communities received HMM+SMC while control communities received HMM. Primary end point was the incidence of malaria attacks during the follow up period. Secondary end points included: malaria diagnostic accuracy; access to ACT treatment; SMC coverage; safety and drug tolerability. RESULTS: The adjusted rate ratio for incidence of malaria attacks in intervention and control communities was 0.15, indicating a protective effect of HMM+SMC of 85% (95% CI: 39.9-96.3%, p=0.01). Access to ACT treatment was 96.4% while SMC coverage represented 97.3% (95% CI: 91.3-100%) in 2010, and 88.8% (95% CI: 84.2-93.6%) in 2011. No serious adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION: It seems feasible and safe to combine SMC with HMM intervention, while achieving high coverage and effectiveness of both SMC and HMM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (www.pactr.org) PACTR201305000551876.
Authors: Joaniter Nankabirwa; Simon J Brooker; Sian E Clarke; Deepika Fernando; Caroline W Gitonga; David Schellenberg; Brian Greenwood Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2014-08-22 Impact factor: 2.622
Authors: Jeremy N Burrows; Stephan Duparc; Winston E Gutteridge; Rob Hooft van Huijsduijnen; Wiweka Kaszubska; Fiona Macintyre; Sébastien Mazzuri; Jörg J Möhrle; Timothy N C Wells Journal: Malar J Date: 2017-01-13 Impact factor: 2.979