Marta Blanco1,2, Pablo Suárez-Sanchez1,3, Belén García1,4, Jesús Nzang1,4, Policarpo Ncogo1,4, Matilde Riloha5, Pedro Berzosa1,6, Agustín Benito1,6, María Romay-Barja7,8. 1. Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. 2. Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, Spain. 3. Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. 4. Fundación Estatal, Salud, Infancia y Bienestar Social (FCSAI), Madrid, Spain. 5. Ministerio de Salud y Bienestar Social, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. 6. Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales, RICET, Madrid, Spain. 7. Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. mromay@isciii.es. 8. Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales, RICET, Madrid, Spain. mromay@isciii.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2018, an estimated 228 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide. Countries are far from having achieved reasonable levels of national protocol compliance among health workers. Lack of awareness of treatment protocols and treatment resistance by prescribers threatens to undermine progress when it comes to reducing the prevalence of this disease. This study sought to evaluate the degree of knowledge and practices regarding malaria diagnosis and treatment amongst prescribers working at the public health facilities of Bata, Equatorial Guinea. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in October-December 2017 amongst all public health professionals who attended patients under the age of 15 years, with suspected malaria in the Bata District of Equatorial Guinea. Practitioners were asked about their practices and knowledge of malaria and the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines. A bivariate analysis and a logistic regression model were used to determine factors associated with their knowledge. RESULTS: Among the 44 practitioners interviewed, 59.1% worked at a Health Centre and 40.9% at the District Hospital of Bata. Important differences in knowledge and practices between hospital and health centre workers were found. Clinical diagnosis was more frequently by practitioners at the health centres (p = 0.059), while microscopy confirmation was more frequent at regional hospital (100%). Intramuscular artemether was the anti-malarial most administrated at the health centres (50.0%), while artemether-lumefantrine was the treatment most used at the regional hospital (66.7%). Most practitioners working at public health facilities (63.6%) have a low level of knowledge regarding the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines. While knowledge regarding malaria, the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines and treatment resistances is low, it was higher amongst hospital workers than amongst practitioners at health centres. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to reinforce practitioners' knowledge, treatment and diagnosis practices and use of the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines in order to improve malaria case management and disease control in the region. A specific malaria training programme ensuring ongoing updates training is necessary in order to ensure that greater experience does not entail obsolete knowledge and, consequently, inadequate diagnosis and treatment practices.
BACKGROUND: In 2018, an estimated 228 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide. Countries are far from having achieved reasonable levels of national protocol compliance among health workers. Lack of awareness of treatment protocols and treatment resistance by prescribers threatens to undermine progress when it comes to reducing the prevalence of this disease. This study sought to evaluate the degree of knowledge and practices regarding malaria diagnosis and treatment amongst prescribers working at the public health facilities of Bata, Equatorial Guinea. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in October-December 2017 amongst all public health professionals who attended patients under the age of 15 years, with suspected malaria in the Bata District of Equatorial Guinea. Practitioners were asked about their practices and knowledge of malaria and the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines. A bivariate analysis and a logistic regression model were used to determine factors associated with their knowledge. RESULTS: Among the 44 practitioners interviewed, 59.1% worked at a Health Centre and 40.9% at the District Hospital of Bata. Important differences in knowledge and practices between hospital and health centre workers were found. Clinical diagnosis was more frequently by practitioners at the health centres (p = 0.059), while microscopy confirmation was more frequent at regional hospital (100%). Intramuscular artemether was the anti-malarial most administrated at the health centres (50.0%), while artemether-lumefantrine was the treatment most used at the regional hospital (66.7%). Most practitioners working at public health facilities (63.6%) have a low level of knowledge regarding the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines. While knowledge regarding malaria, the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines and treatment resistances is low, it was higher amongst hospital workers than amongst practitioners at health centres. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to reinforce practitioners' knowledge, treatment and diagnosis practices and use of the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines in order to improve malaria case management and disease control in the region. A specific malaria training programme ensuring ongoing updates training is necessary in order to ensure that greater experience does not entail obsolete knowledge and, consequently, inadequate diagnosis and treatment practices.
Authors: Tarig M Abdelgader; Abdalla M Ibrahim; Khalid A Elmardi; Sophie Githinji; Dejan Zurovac; Robert W Snow; Abdisalan M Noor Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-01-06 Impact factor: 3.295
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: Fidiniaina Mamy Randriatsarafara; Vatsiharizandry Mandrosovololona; Jean Claude Andrianirinarison; Antsa Nomenjanahary Rakotondrandriana; Armand Eugene Randrianarivo-Solofoniaina; Arsène Ratsimbasoa; Jean de Dieu Marie Rakotomanga Journal: Pan Afr Med J Date: 2019-02-14