An Evaluation of Active Case Detection in Malaria Control Program in Kiyuni Parish of Kyankwanzi District, Uganda

The Relationship Between Market Environment Dimensions and Availability of Malaria Pills in Uganda

Introduction

This study sought to examine the contribution of relationship building (in terms of collaboration, information sharing and supply chain interdependence) on the availability of malaria treatment pills in public hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa using data from Uganda.

Methods

By means of a cross-sectional survey research design, the study used a questionnaire strategy to collect quantitative data. Out of the 320 questionnaires that were distributed in 40 public hospitals, 283 were answered and returned, which yielded an 88% response rate. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to establish the relationship between measured variables and latent constructs.

Results

Drawing on the survey results, the confirmatory factor analysist and the Structural Equation Modelling clearly demonstrate that relationship building (in terms of collaboration, information sharing and supply chain interdependence) significantly influences the availability of Artemisinin-based combination therapies in public general hospitals in Uganda.

Conclusion

Policy-makers should focus on developing cheaper information technology tools to exchange information regarding stock levels, forecasting, quantification, orders, and dispensing. This study developed a measurement model for an inter-hospital relationship, using relational view theory, and it employs dimensions in terms of information sharing and supply chain interdependence to predict and explain the availability of malaria pills in government hospitals.

Diagnostic Performance of Three Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits for Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria is a potent burden on public healthcare worldwide due to requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Nowadays, prompt diagnosis with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) has been widely accepted as an effective diagnostic technique in malaria-endemic countries, primarily due to their easy operation, fast output, and straightforward interpretation. The global availability and use of RDTs have gradually grown over recent decades as field-applicable diagnostic tests for the reliable confirmation of malaria infection and proper case management. This study was conducted to evaluate diagnostic performance of 3 commercially available malaria RDT kits : BIOCREDIT^TM Malaria Ag Pf(pLDH), Malaria Ag Pf(pLDH/pHRPII), and Malaria Ag Pf/Pv(pLDH/pLDH) (where pLDH and pHRPII stand for plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase and histidine-rich protein 2, respectively) for the specific detection of Plasmodium falciparum. A total of 1,129 blood samples including 95 blood samples, confirmed as vivax malaria infection by microscopic examinations and a nested-PCR method, were tested for falciparum malaria infection. The overall sensitivity and specificity of Malaria Ag Pf(pLDH/pHRPII), Malaria Ag Pf/Pv(pLDH/pLDH), and Pf(pLDH) for P. falciparum were 99.0% and 100%, 95.8% and 100%, and 100% and 100%, respectively. It is proposed that the 3 RDT kits perform reliable level of diagnostic accuracy of detection for P. falciparum parasites.