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Amarteyfio KNAA, Bondzie EPK, Reichenberger V, Agyepong IA, Ansah EK, Diarra A, Mirzoev T, Perel P, Yaogo M, Antwi E. Factors influencing primary care access, utilisation and quality of management for patients living with hypertension in West Africa: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077459. [PMID: 38262652 PMCID: PMC10824043 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hypertension, one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in West Africa, can be well managed with good primary care. This scoping review will explore what is documented in the literature about factors that influence primary care access, utilisation and quality of management for patients living with hypertension in West Africa. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The scoping review will employ the approach described by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) . The approach has five stages: (1) formulating the research questions, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) selecting eligible studies, (4) charting the data and (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results. This review will employ the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews to report the results. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cairn Info and Google Scholar will be searched for publications from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2023. Studies reported in English, French or Portuguese will be considered for inclusion. Research articles, systematic reviews, observational studies and reports that include information on the relevant factors that influence primary care management of hypertension in West Africa will be eligible for inclusion. Study participants should be adults (aged 18 years or older). Clinical case series/case reports, short communications, books, grey literature and conference proceedings will be excluded. Papers on gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia will be excluded. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This review does not require ethics approval. Our dissemination strategy includes peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, presentations at conferences, dissemination to stakeholders and intervention co-production forums.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Veronika Reichenberger
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Centre of Global Change and Health, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Tolib Mirzoev
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Centre of Global Change and Health, London, UK
| | - Pablo Perel
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Centre of Global Change and Health, London, UK
| | - Maurice Yaogo
- Universite Catholique de L'Afrique de L'ouest (UCAO) UBB, Bobodialassou, Burkina Faso
| | - Edward Antwi
- Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana
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Adu-Bonsaffoh K, Tamma E, Nwameme A, Dako-Gyeke P, Srofenyoh E, Ansah EK, Grobbee DE, Franx A, Browne JL. Provision and experience of care among women with hypertension in pregnancy: a multi-center qualitative study in Ghana. Reprod Health 2023; 20:49. [PMID: 36966326 PMCID: PMC10039538 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-023-01593-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain a leading global health problem with complex clinical presentations and potentially grim birth outcomes for both mother and fetus. Improvement in the quality of maternal care provision and positive women's experiences are indispensable measures to reduce maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE To explore the perspectives and lived experiences of healthcare provision among women with HDP and the associated challenges. METHODS A multi-center qualitative study using in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted in five major referral hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana between June 2018 and March 2019. Women between 26 and 34 weeks' gestation with confirmed HDP who received maternity care services were eligible to participate. Thematic content analysis was performed using the inductive analytic framework approach. RESULTS Fifty IDIs and three FGDs (with 22 participants) were conducted. Most women were between 20 and 30 years, Akans (ethnicity), married/cohabiting, self-employed and secondary school graduates. Women reported mixed (positive and negative) experiences of maternal care. Positive experiences reported include receiving optimal quality of care, satisfaction with care and good counselling and reassurance from the health professionals. Negative experiences of care comprised ineffective provider-client communication, inappropriate attitudes by the health professionals and disrespectful treatment including verbal and physical abuse. Major health system factors influencing women's experiences of care included lack of logistics, substandard professionalism, inefficient national health insurance system and unexplained delays at health facilities. Patient-related factors that influenced provision of care enumerated were financial limitations, chronic psychosocial stress and inadequate awareness about HDP. CONCLUSION Women with HDP reported both positive and negative experiences of care stemming from the healthcare system, health providers and individual factors. Given the importance of positive women's experiences and respectful maternal care, dedicated multidisciplinary women-centered care is recommended to optimize the care for pregnant women with HDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwame Adu-Bonsaffoh
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, P.O. Box 77, Accra, Ghana.
- Holy Care Specialist Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
| | | | - Adanna Nwameme
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Phyllis Dako-Gyeke
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Srofenyoh
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), Accra, Ghana
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Institute for Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Arie Franx
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joyce L Browne
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Vidzro ES, Arhinful DK, Ansah EK. Obstetric referral processes and the role of inter-facility communication: the district-level experience in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Ghana Med J 2022; 56:51-60. [PMID: 38322747 PMCID: PMC10630038 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v56i3s.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To describe the capacity of primary health care facilities to manage obstetric referrals, the reasons, and processes for managing obstetric referrals, and how an enhanced inter-facility communication system may have influenced these. Design Mixed methods comparing data before and during the intervention period. Setting Three districts in the Greater Accra region, Ghana from May 2017 to February 2018. Participants Referred pregnant women and their relatives, health workers at referring and referral facilities, facility and district health managers. Intervention An enhanced inter-facility communication system for obstetric referrals. Results Twenty-two facilities and 673 referrals were assessed over the period. The major reason for referrals was pregnancy complications (85.5%). Emergency obstetric medicines - oxytocin and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) were available in 81.8% and 54.5% facilities, respectively, and a health worker accompanied 110(16.3%) women to the referral centre. Inter-facility communication about the referral occurred for 240 (35.7%) patients. During the intervention period, referrals joining queues at the referral facility decreased (7.8% to 0.0%; p=0.01), referrals coming in with referral notes improved (78.4% to 91.2%) and referrals with inter-facility communication improved (43.1% to 52.9%). Health workers and managers reported improvement in feedback to lower-level facilities and better filling of referral forms. Conclusion Facilities had varying levels of availability of infrastructure, protocols, guidelines, services, equipment, and logistics for managing obstetric referrals. Enhanced inter-facility communication for obstetric referrals which engages health workers and provides requisite tools, can facilitate an efficient referral process for desired outcomes. Funding This study was funded by the WHO/TDR Postdoctoral grant number B40347 to the NMIMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Edem S Vidzro
- Center for Malaria Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health & Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Daniel K Arhinful
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Center for Malaria Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health & Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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Ansah EK, Moucheraud C, Arogundade L, Rangel GW. Rethinking integrated service delivery for malaria. PLOS Glob Public Health 2022; 2:e0000462. [PMID: 36962405 PMCID: PMC10021790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite worldwide efforts and much progress toward malaria control, declines in malaria morbidity and mortality have hit a plateau. While many nations achieved significant malaria suppression or even elimination, success has been uneven, and other nations have made little headway-or even lost ground in this battle. These alarming trends threaten to derail the attainment of global targets for malaria control. Among the challenges impeding success in malaria reduction, many strategies center malaria as a set of technical problems in commodity development and delivery. Yet, this narrow perspective overlooks the importance of strong health systems and robust healthcare delivery. This paper argues that strategies that move the needle on health services and behaviors offer a significant opportunity to achieve malaria control through a comprehensive approach that integrates malaria with broader health services efforts. Indeed, malaria may serve as the thread that weaves integrated service delivery into a path forward for universal health coverage. Using key themes identified by the "Rethinking Malaria in the Context of COVID-19" effort through engagement with key stakeholders, we provide recommendations for pursuing integrated service delivery that can advance malaria control via strengthening health systems, increasing visibility and use of high-quality data at all levels, centering issues of equity, promoting research and innovation for new tools, expanding knowledge on effective implementation strategies for interventions, making the case for investing in malaria among stakeholders, and engaging impacted communities and nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn K Ansah
- Centre for Malaria Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Corrina Moucheraud
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Linda Arogundade
- Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gabriel W Rangel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Orish VN, Boakye-Yiadom E, Ansah EK, Alhassan RK, Duedu K, Awuku YA, Owusu-Agyei S, Gyapong JO. Is malaria immunity a possible protection against severe symptoms and outcomes of COVID-19? Ghana Med J 2022; 55:56-63. [PMID: 35233116 PMCID: PMC8853697 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v55i2s.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria-endemic areas of the world are noted for high morbidity and mortality from malaria. Also noted in these areas is the majority of persons in the population having acquired malaria immunity. Though this acquired malaria immunity does not prevent infection, it resists the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites, restricting disease to merely uncomplicated cases or asymptomatic infections. Does this acquired malaria immunity in endemic areas protect against other diseases, especially outbreak diseases like COVID-19? Does malaria activation of innate immunity resulting in trained or tolerance immunity contribute to protection against COVID-19? In an attempt to answer these questions, this review highlights the components of malaria and viral immunity and explores possible links with immunity against COVID-19. With malaria-endemic areas of the world having a fair share of cases of COVID-19, it is important to direct research in this area to evaluate and harness any benefits of acquired malaria immunity to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and any possible future outbreaks. Funding None declared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verner N Orish
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Emily Boakye-Yiadom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Centre for Malaria Research, Institute for Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Robert K Alhassan
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Kwabena Duedu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Yaw A Awuku
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - Seth Owusu-Agyei
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
| | - John O Gyapong
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
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Amoakoh HB, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Agyepong IA, Amoakoh-Coleman M, Kayode GA, Reitsma JB, Grobbee DE, Ansah EK. Can an mhealth clinical decision-making support system improve adherence to neonatal healthcare protocols in a low-resource setting? BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:534. [PMID: 33243172 PMCID: PMC7694934 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02378-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study assessed health workers’ adherence to neonatal health protocols before and during the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) clinical decision-making support system (mCDMSS) that sought to bridge access to neonatal health protocol gap in a low-resource setting. Methods We performed a cross-sectional document review within two purposively selected clusters (one poorly-resourced and one well-resourced), from each arm of a cluster-randomized trial at two different time points: before and during the trial. The total trial consisted of 16 clusters randomized into 8 intervention and 8 control clusters to assess the impact of an mCDMSS on neonatal mortality in Ghana. We evaluated health workers’ adherence (expressed as percentages) to birth asphyxia, neonatal jaundice and cord sepsis protocols by reviewing medical records of neonatal in-patients using a checklist. Differences in adherence to neonatal health protocols within and between the study arms were assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and permutation tests for each morbidity type. In addition, we tracked concurrent neonatal health improvement activities in the clusters during the 18-month intervention period. Results In the intervention arm, mean adherence was 35.2% (SD = 5.8%) and 43.6% (SD = 27.5%) for asphyxia; 25.0% (SD = 14.8%) and 39.3% (SD = 27.7%) for jaundice; 52.0% (SD = 11.0%) and 75.0% (SD = 21.2%) for cord sepsis protocols in the pre-intervention and intervention periods respectively. In the control arm, mean adherence was 52.9% (SD = 16.4%) and 74.5% (SD = 14.7%) for asphyxia; 45.1% (SD = 12.8%) and 64.6% (SD = 8.2%) for jaundice; 53.8% (SD = 16.0%) and 60.8% (SD = 11.7%) for cord sepsis protocols in the pre-intervention and intervention periods respectively. We observed nonsignificant improvement in protocol adherence in the intervention clusters but significant improvement in protocol adherence in the control clusters. There were 2 concurrent neonatal health improvement activities in the intervention clusters and over 12 in the control clusters during the intervention period. Conclusion Whether mHealth interventions can improve adherence to neonatal health protocols in low-resource settings cannot be ascertained by this study. Neonatal health improvement activities are however likely to improve protocol adherence. Future mHealth evaluations of protocol adherence must account for other concurrent interventions in study contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Brown Amoakoh
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Irene Akua Agyepong
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Gbenga A Kayode
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - J B Reitsma
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Arhinful DK, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Ansah EK, Koram KA. Coverage of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) influences delivery outcomes among women with obstetric referrals at the district level in Ghana. Malar J 2020; 19:222. [PMID: 32580717 PMCID: PMC7315483 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03288-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of the study was to determine the coverage of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) and its relationship with delivery outcomes among obstetric referral cases at the district level of healthcare. Methods An implementation research within three districts of the Greater Accra region was conducted from May 2017 to February 2018, to assess the role of an enhanced inter-facility communication system on processes and outcomes of obstetric referrals. A cross-sectional analysis of the data on IPTp coverage as well as delivery outcomes for the period of study was conducted, for all the referrals ending up in deliveries. Primary outcomes were maternal and neonatal complications at delivery. IPTp coverage was determined as percentages and classified as adequate or inadequate. Associated factors were determined using Chi square. Odds ratios (OR, 95% CI) were estimated for predictors of adequate IPTp dose coverage for associations with delivery outcomes, with statistical significance set at p = 0.05. Results From a total of 460 obstetric referrals from 16 lower level facilities who delivered at the three district hospitals, only 223 (48.5%) received adequate (at least 3) doses of IPTp. The district, type of facility where ANC is attended, insurance status, marital status and number of antenatal clinic visits significantly affected IPTp doses received. Adjusted ORs show that adequate IPTp coverage was significantly associated with new-born complication [0.80 (0.65–0.98); p = 0.03], low birth weight [0.51 (0.38–0.68); p < 0.01], preterm delivery [0.71 (0.55–0.90); p = 0.01] and malaria as indication for referral [0.70 (0.56–0.87); p < 0.01]. Positive association with maternal complication at delivery was seen but was not significant. Conclusion IPTp coverage remains low in the study setting and is affected by type of health facility that ANC is received at, access to health insurance and number of times a woman attends ANC during pregnancy. This study also confirmed earlier findings that, as an intervention IPTp prevents bad outcomes of pregnancy, even among women with obstetric referrals. It is important to facilitate IPTp service delivery to pregnant women across the country, improve coverage of required doses and maximize the benefits to both mothers and newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. .,Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| | - Daniel K Arhinful
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Center for Malaria Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health & Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo A Koram
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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O'Boyle S, Bruxvoort KJ, Ansah EK, Burchett HED, Chandler CIR, Clarke SE, Goodman C, Mbacham W, Mbonye AK, Onwujekwe OE, Staedke SG, Wiseman VL, Whitty CJM, Hopkins H. Patients with positive malaria tests not given artemisinin-based combination therapies: a research synthesis describing under-prescription of antimalarial medicines in Africa. BMC Med 2020; 18:17. [PMID: 31996199 PMCID: PMC6990477 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been a successful push towards parasitological diagnosis of malaria in Africa, mainly with rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs), which has reduced over-prescribing of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) to malaria test-negative patients. The effect on prescribing for test-positive patients has received much less attention. Malaria infection in endemic Africa is often most dangerous for young children and those in low-transmission settings. This study examined non-prescription of antimalarials for patients with malaria infection demonstrated by positive mRDT results, and in particular these groups who are most vulnerable to poor outcomes if antimalarials are not given. METHODS Analysis of data from 562,762 patients in 8 studies co-designed as part of the ACT Consortium, conducted 2007-2013 in children and adults, in Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, in a variety of public and private health care sector settings, and across a range of malaria endemic zones. RESULTS Of 106,039 patients with positive mRDT results (median age 6 years), 7426 (7.0%) were not prescribed an ACT antimalarial. The proportion of mRDT-positive patients not prescribed ACT ranged across sites from 1.3 to 37.1%. For patients under age 5 years, 3473/44,539 (7.8%) were not prescribed an ACT, compared with 3833/60,043 (6.4%) of those aged ≥ 5 years. The proportion of < 5-year-olds not prescribed ACT ranged up to 41.8% across sites. The odds of not being prescribed an ACT were 2-32 times higher for patients in settings with lower-transmission intensity (using test positivity as a proxy) compared to areas of higher transmission. mRDT-positive children in low-transmission settings were especially likely not to be prescribed ACT, with proportions untreated up to 70%. Of the 7426 mRDT-positive patients not prescribed an ACT, 4121 (55.5%) were prescribed other, non-recommended non-ACT antimalarial medications, and the remainder (44.5%) were prescribed no antimalarial. CONCLUSIONS In eight studies of mRDT implementation in five African countries, substantial proportions of patients testing mRDT-positive were not prescribed an ACT antimalarial, and many were not prescribed an antimalarial at all. Patients most vulnerable to serious outcomes, children < 5 years and those in low-transmission settings, were most likely to not be prescribed antimalarials, and young children in low-transmission settings were least likely to be treated for malaria. This major public health risk must be addressed in training and practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION Reported in individual primary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katia J Bruxvoort
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, USA
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Centre for Malaria Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Siân E Clarke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Wilfred Mbacham
- Public Health Biotechnology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Obinna E Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | | | - Virginia L Wiseman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Heidi Hopkins
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Amoakoh HB, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Agyepong IA, Zuithoff P, Amoakoh-Coleman M, Kayode GA, Sarpong C, Reitsma JB, Grobbee DE, Ansah EK. The effect of an mhealth clinical decision-making support system on neonatal mortality in Ghana. Eur J Public Health 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Mhealth interventions promise to bridge gaps in clinical care but documentation of their effectiveness is limited. We evaluated the utilization and effect of an mhealth clinical decision-making support intervention that aimed to improve neonatal mortality in Ghana by providing access to emergency neonatal protocols for frontline health workers.
Methods
In the Eastern Region of Ghana, sixteen districts were randomized into two study arms (8 intervention and 8 control clusters) in a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Institutional neonatal mortality data were extracted from the District Health Information System-2 during an 18-month intervention period. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis and estimated the effect of the intervention on institutional neonatal mortality (primary outcome measure) using grouped binomial logistic regression with a random intercept per cluster. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02468310).
Results
There were 65,831 institutional deliveries and 348 institutional neonatal deaths during the study period. Overall, 47·3% of deliveries and 56·9% of neonatal deaths occurred in the intervention arm. During the intervention period, neonatal deaths increased from 4·5 to 6·4 deaths and, from 3·9 to 4·3 deaths per 1,000 deliveries in the intervention arm and control arm respectively. The odds of neonatal death was non-significantly higher in the intervention arm compared to the control arm (odds ratio 2·10; 95% CI (0·77;5·77); p = 0·15). The correlation between the number of protocol requests and the number of deliveries per intervention cluster was 0·71 (p = 0·05).
Conclusions
Non-significant higher risk of neonatal death observed in intervention clusters may be due to problems with birth and death registration, unmeasured and unadjusted confounding, and unintended use of the intervention. The findings underpin the need for careful and rigorous evaluation of mhealth intervention implementation and effects.
Key messages
Supposedly effective interventions must be evaluated in context before they are scaled-up. Mechanisms influencing outcomes in context must be considered in the design and evaluation of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Amoakoh
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - K Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - I A Agyepong
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - P Zuithoff
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - G A Kayode
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - C Sarpong
- Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Koforidua, Ghana
| | - J B Reitsma
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - D E Grobbee
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - E K Ansah
- Centre for Malaria Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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10
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Amoakoh HB, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Agyepong IA, Zuithoff NP, Amoakoh-Coleman M, Kayode GA, Sarpong C, Reitsma JB, Grobbee DE, Ansah EK. The effect of an mHealth clinical decision-making support system on neonatal mortality in a low resource setting: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine 2019; 12:31-42. [PMID: 31388661 PMCID: PMC6677648 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MHealth interventions promise to bridge gaps in clinical care but documentation of their effectiveness is limited. We evaluated the utilization and effect of an mhealth clinical decision-making support intervention that aimed to improve neonatal mortality in Ghana by providing access to emergency neonatal protocols for frontline health workers. METHODS In the Eastern Region of Ghana, sixteen districts were randomized into two study arms (8 intervention and 8 control clusters) in a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Institutional neonatal mortality data were extracted from the District Health Information System-2 during an 18-month intervention period. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis and estimated the effect of the intervention on institutional neonatal mortality (primary outcome measure) using grouped binomial logistic regression with a random intercept per cluster. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02468310 ) and Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR20151200109073). FINDINGS There were 65,831 institutional deliveries and 348 institutional neonatal deaths during the study period. Overall, 47 ∙ 3% of deliveries and 56 ∙ 9% of neonatal deaths occurred in the intervention arm. During the intervention period, neonatal deaths increased from 4 ∙ 5 to 6 ∙ 4 deaths and, from 3 ∙ 9 to 4 ∙ 3 deaths per 1000 deliveries in the intervention arm and control arm respectively. The odds of neonatal death was 2⋅09 (95% CI (1 ∙ 00;4 ∙ 38); p = 0 ∙ 051) times higher in the intervention arm compared to the control arm (adjusted odds ratio). The correlation between the number of protocol requests and the number of deliveries per intervention cluster was 0 ∙ 71 (p = 0 ∙ 05). INTERPRETATION The higher risk of institutional neonatal death observed in intervention clusters may be due to problems with birth and death registration, unmeasured and unadjusted confounding, and unintended use of the intervention. The findings underpin the need for careful and rigorous evaluation of mHealth intervention implementation and effects. FUNDING Netherlands Foundation for Scientific Research - WOTRO, Science for Global Development; Utrecht University.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Brown Amoakoh
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht the Netherlands
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Corresponding author at: School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Nicolaas P.A. Zuithoff
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht the Netherlands
| | | | - Gbenga A. Kayode
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht the Netherlands
- International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Charity Sarpong
- Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, Koforidua, Ghana
| | - Johannes B. Reitsma
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht the Netherlands
| | - Diederick E. Grobbee
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht the Netherlands
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11
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Amoakoh HB, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Grobbee DE, Amoakoh-Coleman M, Oduro-Mensah E, Sarpong C, Frimpong E, Kayode GA, Agyepong IA, Ansah EK. Using Mobile Health to Support Clinical Decision-Making to Improve Maternal and Neonatal Health Outcomes in Ghana: Insights of Frontline Health Worker Information Needs. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e12879. [PMID: 31127719 PMCID: PMC6555115 DOI: 10.2196/12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developing and maintaining resilient health systems in low-resource settings like Ghana requires innovative approaches that adapt technology to context to improve health outcomes. One such innovation was a mobile health (mHealth) clinical decision-making support system (mCDMSS) that utilized text messaging (short message service, SMS) of standard emergency maternal and neonatal protocols via an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) on request of the health care providers. This mCDMSS was implemented in a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) in the Eastern Region of Ghana. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the pattern of requests made to the USSD by health workers (HWs). We assessed the relationship between requests made to the USSD and types of maternal and neonatal morbidities reported in health facilities (HFs). METHODS For clusters in the intervention arm of the CRCT, all requests to the USSD during the 18-month intervention period were extracted from a remote server, and maternal and neonatal health outcomes of interest were obtained from the District Health Information System of Ghana. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the proportion and type of requests made to the USSD by cluster, facility type, and location; whether phones accessing the intervention were shared facility phones or individual-use phones (type-of-phone); or whether protocols were accessed during the day or at night (time-of-day). Trends in requests made were analyzed over 3 6-month periods. The relationship between requests made and the number of cases reported in HFs was assessed using Spearman correlation. RESULTS In total, 5329 requests from 72 (97%) participating HFs were made to the intervention. The average number of requests made per cluster was 667. Requests declined from the first to the third 6-month period (44.96% [2396/5329], 39.82% [2122/5329], and 15.22% [811/5329], respectively). Maternal conditions accounted for the majority of requests made (66.35% [3536/5329]). The most frequently accessed maternal conditions were postpartum hemorrhage (25.23% [892/3536]), other conditions (17.82% [630/3536]), and hypertension (16.49% [583/3536]), whereas the most frequently accessed neonatal conditions were prematurity (20.08% [360/1793]), sepsis (15.45% [277/1793]), and resuscitation (13.78% [247/1793]). Requests made to the mCDMSS varied significantly by cluster, type of request (maternal or neonatal), facility type and its location, type-of-phone, and time-of-day at 6-month interval (P<.001 for each variable). Trends in maternal and neonatal requests showed varying significance over each 6-month interval. Only asphyxia and sepsis cases showed significant correlations with the number of requests made (r=0.44 and r=0.79; P<.001 and P=.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS There were variations in the pattern of requests made to the mCDMSS over time. Detailed information regarding the use of the mCDMSS provides insight into the information needs of HWs for decision-making and an opportunity to focus support for HW training and ultimately improved maternal and neonatal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Brown Amoakoh
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Charity Sarpong
- Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, Koforidua, Ghana
| | - Edith Frimpong
- Dodowa Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gbenga A Kayode
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Centre for Malaria Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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12
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Bruxvoort KJ, Leurent B, Chandler CIR, Ansah EK, Baiden F, Björkman A, Burchett HED, Clarke SE, Cundill B, DiLiberto DD, Elfving K, Goodman C, Hansen KS, Kachur SP, Lal S, Lalloo DG, Leslie T, Magnussen P, Mangham-Jefferies L, Mårtensson A, Mayan I, Mbonye AK, Msellem MI, Onwujekwe OE, Owusu-Agyei S, Rowland MW, Shakely D, Staedke SG, Vestergaard LS, Webster J, Whitty CJM, Wiseman VL, Yeung S, Schellenberg D, Hopkins H. The Impact of Introducing Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests on Fever Case Management: A Synthesis of Ten Studies from the ACT Consortium. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:1170-1179. [PMID: 28820705 PMCID: PMC5637593 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2010, the World Health Organization has been recommending that all suspected cases of malaria be confirmed with parasite-based diagnosis before treatment. These guidelines represent a paradigm shift away from presumptive antimalarial treatment of fever. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are central to implementing this policy, intended to target artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) to patients with confirmed malaria and to improve management of patients with nonmalarial fevers. The ACT Consortium conducted ten linked studies, eight in sub-Saharan Africa and two in Afghanistan, to evaluate the impact of mRDT introduction on case management across settings that vary in malaria endemicity and healthcare provider type. This synthesis includes 562,368 outpatient encounters (study size range 2,400-432,513). mRDTs were associated with significantly lower ACT prescription (range 8-69% versus 20-100%). Prescribing did not always adhere to malaria test results; in several settings, ACTs were prescribed to more than 30% of test-negative patients or to fewer than 80% of test-positive patients. Either an antimalarial or an antibiotic was prescribed for more than 75% of patients across most settings; lower antimalarial prescription for malaria test-negative patients was partly offset by higher antibiotic prescription. Symptomatic management with antipyretics alone was prescribed for fewer than 25% of patients across all scenarios. In community health worker and private retailer settings, mRDTs increased referral of patients to other providers. This synthesis provides an overview of shifts in case management that may be expected with mRDT introduction and highlights areas of focus to improve design and implementation of future case management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia J Bruxvoort
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Baptiste Leurent
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Siân E Clarke
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bonnie Cundill
- Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Catherine Goodman
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristian S Hansen
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sham Lal
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David G Lalloo
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Toby Leslie
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pascal Magnussen
- Department for Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ismail Mayan
- Health Protection Research Organisation, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Anthony K Mbonye
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.,Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Obinna E Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | | | - Mark W Rowland
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Delér Shakely
- Centre for Malaria Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Health Metrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sarah G Staedke
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jayne Webster
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Virginia L Wiseman
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Heidi Hopkins
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Amoakoh HB, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Amoakoh-Coleman M, Agyepong IA, Kayode GA, Sarpong C, Grobbee DE, Ansah EK. The effect of a clinical decision-making mHealth support system on maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Ghana: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 2017; 18:157. [PMID: 28372580 PMCID: PMC5379695 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-1897-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) presents one of the potential solutions to maximize health worker impact and efficiency in an effort to reach the Sustainable Development Goals 3.1 and 3.2, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. Poor-quality clinical decision-making is known to be associated with poor pregnancy and birth outcomes. This study aims to assess the effect of a clinical decision-making support system (CDMSS) directed at frontline health care providers on neonatal and maternal health outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN A cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted in 16 eligible districts (clusters) in the Eastern Region of Ghana to assess the effect of an mHealth CDMSS for maternal and neonatal health care services on maternal and neonatal outcomes. The CDMSS intervention consists of an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)-based text messaging of standard emergency obstetric and neonatal protocols to providers on their request. The primary outcome of the intervention is the incidence of institutional neonatal mortality. Outcomes will be assessed through an analysis of data on maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality extracted from the District Health Information Management System-2 (DHIMS-2) and health facility-based records. The quality of maternal and neonatal health care will be assessed in two purposively selected clusters from each study arm. DISCUSSION In this trial the effect of a mobile CDMSS on institutional maternal and neonatal health outcomes will be evaluated to generate evidence-based recommendations for the use of mobile CDMSS in Ghana and other West African countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02468310 . Registered on 7 September 2015; Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, identifier: PACTR20151200109073 . Registered on 9 December 2015 retrospectively from trial start date.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St. Andrew’s Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, PO Box LG13, Accra Ghana
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Irene Akua Agyepong
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, PO Box LG13, Accra Ghana
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, PO Box MB 190, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gbenga A. Kayode
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Charity Sarpong
- Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Services, PO Box 175, Koforidua, Eastern Region Ghana
| | - Diederick E. Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn K. Ansah
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, PO Box LG13, Accra Ghana
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, PO Box MB 190, Accra, Ghana
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14
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Hopkins H, Bruxvoort KJ, Cairns ME, Chandler CIR, Leurent B, Ansah EK, Baiden F, Baltzell KA, Björkman A, Burchett HED, Clarke SE, DiLiberto DD, Elfving K, Goodman C, Hansen KS, Kachur SP, Lal S, Lalloo DG, Leslie T, Magnussen P, Jefferies LM, Mårtensson A, Mayan I, Mbonye AK, Msellem MI, Onwujekwe OE, Owusu-Agyei S, Reyburn H, Rowland MW, Shakely D, Vestergaard LS, Webster J, Wiseman VL, Yeung S, Schellenberg D, Staedke SG, Whitty CJM. Impact of introduction of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria on antibiotic prescribing: analysis of observational and randomised studies in public and private healthcare settings. BMJ 2017; 356:j1054. [PMID: 28356302 PMCID: PMC5370398 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j1054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To examine the impact of use of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria on prescribing of antimicrobials, specifically antibiotics, for acute febrile illness in Africa and Asia.Design Analysisof nine preselected linked and codesigned observational and randomised studies (eight cluster or individually randomised trials and one observational study).Setting Public and private healthcare settings, 2007-13, in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.Participants 522 480 children and adults with acute febrile illness.Interventions Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria.Main outcome measures Proportions of patients for whom an antibiotic was prescribed in trial groups who had undergone rapid diagnostic testing compared with controls and in patients with negative test results compared with patients with positive results. A secondary aim compared classes of antibiotics prescribed in different settings.Results Antibiotics were prescribed to 127 052/238 797 (53%) patients in control groups and 167 714/283 683 (59%) patients in intervention groups. Antibiotics were prescribed to 40% (35 505/89 719) of patients with a positive test result for malaria and to 69% (39 400/57 080) of those with a negative result. All but one study showed a trend toward more antibiotic prescribing in groups who underwent rapid diagnostic tests. Random effects meta-analysis of the trials showed that the overall risk of antibiotic prescription was 21% higher (95% confidence interval 7% to 36%) in intervention settings. In most intervention settings, patients with negative test results received more antibiotic prescriptions than patients with positive results for all the most commonly used classes: penicillins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (one exception), tetracyclines, and metronidazole.Conclusions Introduction of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria to reduce unnecessary use of antimalarials-a beneficial public health outcome-could drive up untargeted use of antibiotics. That 69% of patients were prescribed antibiotics when test results were negative probably represents overprescription.This included antibiotics from several classes, including those like metronidazole that are seldom appropriate for febrile illness, across varied clinical, health system, and epidemiological settings. It is often assumed that better disease specific diagnostics will reduce antimicrobial overuse, but they might simply shift it from one antimicrobial class to another. Current global implementation of malaria testing might increase untargeted antibiotic use and must be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Hopkins
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Matthew E Cairns
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Baptiste Leurent
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Siân E Clarke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | | | | | - Kristian S Hansen
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK1014, Denmark
| | | | - Sham Lal
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Toby Leslie
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- Health Protection Research Organisation, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Pascal Magnussen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital, and Department for Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ismail Mayan
- Health Protection Research Organisation, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Anthony K Mbonye
- Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Obinna E Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Seth Owusu-Agyei
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Hugh Reyburn
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Mark W Rowland
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Delér Shakely
- Centre for Malaria Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Health Metrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jayne Webster
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Virginia L Wiseman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Sarah G Staedke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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15
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Visser T, Bruxvoort K, Maloney K, Leslie T, Barat LM, Allan R, Ansah EK, Anyanti J, Boulton I, Clarke SE, Cohen JL, Cohen JM, Cutherell A, Dolkart C, Eves K, Fink G, Goodman C, Hutchinson E, Lal S, Mbonye A, Onwujekwe O, Petty N, Pontarollo J, Poyer S, Schellenberg D, Streat E, Ward A, Wiseman V, Whitty CJM, Yeung S, Cunningham J, Chandler CIR. Introducing malaria rapid diagnostic tests in private medicine retail outlets: A systematic literature review. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173093. [PMID: 28253315 PMCID: PMC5333947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many patients with malaria-like symptoms seek treatment in private medicine retail outlets (PMR) that distribute malaria medicines but do not traditionally provide diagnostic services, potentially leading to overtreatment with antimalarial drugs. To achieve universal access to prompt parasite-based diagnosis, many malaria-endemic countries are considering scaling up malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in these outlets, an intervention that may require legislative changes and major investments in supporting programs and infrastructures. This review identifies studies that introduced malaria RDTs in PMRs and examines study outcomes and success factors to inform scale up decisions. Methods Published and unpublished studies that introduced malaria RDTs in PMRs were systematically identified and reviewed. Literature published before November 2016 was searched in six electronic databases, and unpublished studies were identified through personal contacts and stakeholder meetings. Outcomes were extracted from publications or provided by principal investigators. Results Six published and six unpublished studies were found. Most studies took place in sub-Saharan Africa and were small-scale pilots of RDT introduction in drug shops or pharmacies. None of the studies assessed large-scale implementation in PMRs. RDT uptake varied widely from 8%-100%. Provision of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for patients testing positive ranged from 30%-99%, and was more than 85% in five studies. Of those testing negative, provision of antimalarials varied from 2%-83% and was less than 20% in eight studies. Longer provider training, lower RDT retail prices and frequent supervision appeared to have a positive effect on RDT uptake and provider adherence to test results. Performance of RDTs by PMR vendors was generally good, but disposal of medical waste and referral of patients to public facilities were common challenges. Conclusions Expanding services of PMRs to include malaria diagnostic services may hold great promise to improve malaria case management and curb overtreatment with antimalarials. However, doing so will require careful planning, investment and additional research to develop and sustain effective training, supervision, waste-management, referral and surveillance programs beyond the public sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoor Visser
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Katia Bruxvoort
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kathleen Maloney
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Toby Leslie
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence M. Barat
- US President’s Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Washington DC, United States of America
| | | | - Evelyn K. Ansah
- Research & Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Ian Boulton
- TropMed Pharma Consulting, Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Siân E. Clarke
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica L. Cohen
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Justin M. Cohen
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Caitlin Dolkart
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katie Eves
- Mentor Initiative, West Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Günther Fink
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Catherine Goodman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Hutchinson
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sham Lal
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nora Petty
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | - David Schellenberg
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Abigail Ward
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christopher J. M. Whitty
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Cunningham
- Global Malaria Program, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clare I. R. Chandler
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Agyepong IA, Kayode GA, Grobbee DE, Ansah EK. Provider adherence to first antenatal care guidelines and risk of pregnancy complications in public sector facilities: a Ghanaian cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2016; 16:369. [PMID: 27881104 PMCID: PMC5121950 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-016-1167-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guideline utilization aims at improvement in quality of care and better health outcomes. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of provider complete adherence to the first antenatal care guidelines on the risk of maternal and neonatal complications in a low resource setting. METHODS Women delivering in 11 health facilities in the Greater Accra region of Ghana were recruited into a cohort study. Their first antenatal visit records were reviewed to assess providers' adherence to the guidelines, using a thirteen-point checklist. Information on their socio-demographic characteristics and previous pregnancy history was collected. Participants were followed up for 6 weeks post-partum to complete data collection on outcomes. The incidence of maternal and neonatal complications was estimated. The effects of complete adherence on risk of maternal and neonatal complications were estimated and expressed as relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for a potential clustering effect of health facilities. RESULTS Overall, 926 women were followed up to 6 weeks post-partum. Mean age (SD) of participants was 28.2 (5.4) years. Complete adherence to guidelines pertained to the care of 48.5% of women. Incidence of preterm deliveries, low birth weight, stillbirths and neonatal mortality were 5.3, 6.1, 0.4 and 1.4% respectively. Complete adherence to the guidelines decreased risk of any neonatal complication [0.72 (0.65-0.93); p = 0.01] and delivery complication [0.66 (0.44-0.99), p = 0.04]. CONCLUSION Complete provider adherence to antenatal care guidelines at first antenatal visit influences delivery and neonatal outcomes. While there is the need to explore and understand explanatory mechanisms for these observations, programs that promote complete adherence to guidelines will improve the pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Postdoctoral Unit, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. .,Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Irene Akua Agyepong
- Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gbenga A Kayode
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
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Ansah EK, Whitty CJ, Bart-Plange C, Gyapong M. Changes in the availability and affordability of subsidised artemisinin combination therapy in the private drug retail sector in rural Ghana: before and after the introduction of the AMFm subsidy. Int Health 2016; 8:427-432. [PMID: 27744327 PMCID: PMC5181550 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihw041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2016] [Revised: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most people with febrile illness are treated in the private drug retail sector. Ghana was among nine countries piloting the Global Fund Affordable Medicines Facility - malaria (AMFm). AMFm aimed to: increase artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) affordability; increase ACT availability; increase ACT use; and 'crowd out' artemisinin monotherapies. METHODS Three censuses were carried out 2 months before (2010), 2 months after and 2.5 years after (2013) the first co-paid ACTs to assess changes in antimalarial (AM) availability and price in private retail shops in a Ghanaian rural district to assess the sustainability of the initial gains. Supply, stock-out and cost were explored. RESULTS Of 62 shops in the district, 56 participated with 398, 388 and 442 brands of AMs in the shops during the 3 censuses. The proportion of ACTs increased over the period while monotherapies reduced. Herbal-based AM preparations comprised 40-45% of AMs in stock with minimal variation over the period. ACTs were the most sold AM type for all ages but overall buying and selling prices of Quality Assured-ACTs increased by 40-100%. CONCLUSIONS Initial gains in ACT availability were sustained, but not improved on 2.5 years after AMFm. Widespread availability of unproven herbal medicines is a concern; AMFm had little impact on this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn K Ansah
- Dangme West District Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box DD1, Dodowa, Ghana
| | | | - Constance Bart-Plange
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box KB493, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Margaret Gyapong
- Dodowa Health Research Center, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box DD1, Dodowa, Ghana
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18
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Agyepong IA, Kayode GA, Grobbee DE, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Ansah EK. Public health facility resource availability and provider adherence to first antenatal guidelines in a low resource setting in Accra, Ghana. BMC Health Serv Res 2016; 16:505. [PMID: 27654404 PMCID: PMC5031339 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1747-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lack of resources has been identified as a reason for non-adherence to clinical guidelines. Our aim was to describe public health facility resource availability in relation to provider adherence to first antenatal visit guidelines. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data of a prospective cohort study on adherence to first antenatal care visit guidelines was carried out in 11 facilities in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Provider adherence was studied in relation to health facility resource availability such as antenatal workload for clinical staffs, routine antenatal drugs, laboratory testing, protocols, ambulance and equipment. Results Eleven facilities comprising 6 hospitals (54.5 %), 4 polyclinics (36.4 %) and 1 health center were randomly sampled. Complete provider adherence to first antenatal guidelines for all the 946 participants was 48.1 % (95 % CI: 41.8–54.2 %), varying significantly amongst the types of facilities, with highest rate in the polyclinics. Average antenatal workload per month per clinical staff member was higher in polyclinics compared to the hospitals. All facility laboratories were able to conduct routine antenatal tests. Most routine antenatal drugs were available in all facilities except magnesium sulphate and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine which were lacking in some. Antenatal service protocols and equipment were also available in all facilities. Conclusion Although antenatal workload varies across different facility types in the Greater Accra region, other health facility resources that support implementation of first antenatal care guidelines are equally available in all the facilities. These factors therefore do not adequately account for the low and varying proportions of complete adherence to guidelines across facility types. Providers should be continually engaged for a better understanding of the barriers to their adherence to these guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands. .,School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | | | - Gbenga A Kayode
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
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19
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Borgstein ABJ, Sondaal SF, Grobbee DE, Miltenburg AS, Verwijs M, Ansah EK, Browne JL, Klipstein-Grobusch K. Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions Targeting Health Care Workers to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2016; 18:e226. [PMID: 27543152 PMCID: PMC5010646 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.5533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face the highest burden of maternal and neonatal deaths. Concurrently, they have the lowest number of physicians. Innovative methods such as the exchange of health-related information using mobile devices (mHealth) may support health care workers in the provision of antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in LMICs. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of mHealth interventions targeting health care workers to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in LMIC. METHODS The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health Library, and Popline were searched using predetermined search and indexing terms. Quality assessment was performed using an adapted Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analysis was performed for each included paper. RESULTS A total of 19 studies were included for this systematic review, 10 intervention and 9 descriptive studies. mHealth interventions were used as communication, data collection, or educational tool by health care providers primarily at the community level in the provision of antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. Interventions were used to track pregnant women to improve antenatal and delivery care, as well as facilitate referrals. None of the studies directly assessed the effect of mHealth on maternal and neonatal mortality. Challenges of mHealth interventions to assist health care workers consisted mainly of technical problems, such as mobile network coverage, internet access, electricity access, and maintenance of mobile phones. CONCLUSIONS mHealth interventions targeting health care workers have the potential to improve maternal and neonatal health services in LMICs. However, there is a gap in the knowledge whether mHealth interventions directly affect maternal and neonatal outcomes and future research should employ experimental designs with relevant outcome measures to address this gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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Abstract
The district health system in Ghana today is characterized by high resource-uncertainty and narrow decision-space. This article builds a theory-driven historical case study to describe the influence of path-dependent administrative, fiscal and political decentralization processes on development of the district health system and district manager decision-space. Methods included a non-exhaustive literature review of democratic governance in Ghana, and key informant interviews with high-level health system officials integral to the development of the district health system. Through our analysis we identified four periods of district health system progression: (1) development of the district health system (1970-85); (2) Strengthening District Health Systems Initiative (1986-93); (3) health sector reform planning and creation of the Ghana Health Service (1994-96) and (4) health sector reform implementation (1997-2007). It was observed that district manager decision-space steadily widened during periods (1) and (2), due to increases in managerial profile, and concerted efforts at managerial capacity strengthening. Periods (3) and (4) saw initial augmentation of district health system financing, further widening managerial decision-space. However, the latter half of period 4 witnessed district manager decision-space contraction. Formalization of Ghana Health Service structures influenced by self-reinforcing tendencies towards centralized decision-making, national and donor shifts in health sector financing, and changes in key policy actors all worked to the detriment of the district health system, reversing early gains from bottom-up development of the district health system. Policy feedback mechanisms have been influenced by historical and contemporary sequencing of local government and health sector decentralization. An initial act of administrative decentralization, followed by incomplete political and fiscal decentralization has ensured that the balance of power has remained at national level, with strong vertical accountabilities and dependence of the district on national level. This study demonstrates that the rhetoric of decentralization does not always mirror actual implementation, nor always result in empowered local actors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aku Kwamie
- Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, University of Ghana, School of Public Health, PO Box LG 13 Accra, Ghana, Wageningen University, Sociology and Development of Change, Hollandseweg 1, PO Box 8130, 6700 EW, the Netherlands,
| | - Han van Dijk
- Wageningen University, Sociology and Development of Change, Hollandseweg 1, PO Box 8130, 6700 EW, the Netherlands
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Ghana Health Service, Research and Development Division, PO Box MB 190 Accra, Ghana and
| | - Irene Akua Agyepong
- Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, University of Ghana, School of Public Health, PO Box LG 13 Accra, Ghana, Julius Global Health, University Medical Centre, HP STR.6.131, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
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21
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Powell-Jackson T, Ansah EK. The indirect effects of subsidised healthcare in rural Ghana. Soc Sci Med 2015; 144:96-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Tanner M, Greenwood B, Whitty CJM, Ansah EK, Price RN, Dondorp AM, von Seidlein L, Baird JK, Beeson JG, Fowkes FJI, Hemingway J, Marsh K, Osier F. Malaria eradication and elimination: views on how to translate a vision into reality. BMC Med 2015; 13:167. [PMID: 26208740 PMCID: PMC4514994 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-015-0384-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although global efforts in the past decade have halved the number of deaths due to malaria, there are still an estimated 219 million cases of malaria a year, causing more than half a million deaths. In this forum article, we asked experts working in malaria research and control to discuss the ways in which malaria might eventually be eradicated. Their collective views highlight the challenges and opportunities, and explain how multi-factorial and integrated processes could eventually make malaria eradication a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Tanner
- Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, 4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Brian Greenwood
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Christopher J M Whitty
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Ric N Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia. .,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Arjen M Dondorp
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Lorenz von Seidlein
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - J Kevin Baird
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Eijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Unit, Jalan Diponegoro No.69, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia.
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. .,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, 19 Innovation Walk, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Freya J I Fowkes
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. .,Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. .,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Janet Hemingway
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Kevin Marsh
- African Academy of Sciences, Miotoni Road, Miotoni Lane, House No. 8 Karen, P.O. Box 24916-00502, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Faith Osier
- KEMRI Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kilifi, Kenya.
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Ansah EK, Agyepong IA, Grobbee DE, Kayode GA, Klipstein-Grobusch K. Predictors of skilled attendance at delivery among antenatal clinic attendants in Ghana: a cross-sectional study of population data. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e007810. [PMID: 25991459 PMCID: PMC4442247 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify demographic, maternal and community predictors of skilled attendance at delivery among women who attend antenatal clinic at least once during their pregnancy in Ghana. DESIGN A cross-sectional study using the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data. We used frequencies for descriptive analysis, χ(2) test for associations and logistic regression to identify significant predictors. Predictive models were built with estimation of area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). SETTING Ghana. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2041 women who had a live birth in the 5 years preceding the survey, and attended an antenatal clinic having a skilled provider, at least once, during the pregnancy. OUTCOME Skilled attendance at delivery. RESULTS Overall, 60.5% (1235/2041) of women in our study sample reported skilled attendance at delivery. Significant positive associations existed between skilled attendance at delivery and the variables such as maternal educational level, wealth status class, ever use of contraception, previous pregnancy complications and health insurance coverage (p<0.001). Significant predictors of skilled attendance were wealth status class, residency, previous delivery complication, health insurance coverage and religion in a model with AUC (95% CI) of 0.85 (0.83 to 0.88). CONCLUSIONS Women less likely to have skilled attendance at delivery can be identified during antenatal care by using data on wealth status class, health insurance coverage, residence, history of previous birth complications and religion, and targeted with interventions to improve skilled attendance at delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Irene Akua Agyepong
- Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gbenga A Kayode
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Amoakoh-Coleman M, Kayode GA, Brown-Davies C, Agyepong IA, Grobbee DE, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Ansah EK. Completeness and accuracy of data transfer of routine maternal health services data in the greater Accra region. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:114. [PMID: 25889945 PMCID: PMC4392754 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1058-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High quality routine health system data is essential for tracking progress towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5. This study aimed to determine the completeness and accuracy of transfer of routine maternal health service data at health facility, district and regional levels of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted using secondary data comprised of routine health information data collected at facility level for the first quarter of 2012. Twelve health facilities were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data relating to antenatal care and delivery were assessed for completeness and accuracy of data transfer. Primary source data from health facility level (registers and record notebooks where health information data are initially entered) , used as the reference data, were counted, collated, and compared with aggregate data on aggregate forms compiled from these sources by health facility staff. The primary source data was also compared with data in the district health information management system (DHIMS–II), a web-based data collation and reporting system. Percentage completeness and percentage error in data transfer were estimated. Results Data for all 5,537 antenatal registrants and 3, 466 deliveries recorded into the primary source for the first quarter of 2012 were assessed. Completeness was best for age data, followed by data on parity and hemoglobin at registration. Mean completeness of the facility level aggregate data for the data sampled, was 94.3% (95% CI = 90.6% – 98.0%) and 100.0% respectively for the aggregate form and DHIMS-II database. Mean error in data transfer was 1.0% (95% CI = 0.8% - 1.2%). Percentage error comparing aggregate form data and DHIMS-II data respectively to the primary source data ranged from 0.0% to 4.9% respectively, while percentage error comparing the DHIMS-II data to aggregate form data, was generally very low or 0.0%. Conclusion Routine maternal health services data in the Greater Accra region, available at the district level through the DHIMS-II system is complete when compared to facility level primary source data and reliable for use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Gbenga A Kayode
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
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Ansah EK, Narh-Bana S, Affran-Bonful H, Bart-Plange C, Cundill B, Gyapong M, Whitty CJM. The impact of providing rapid diagnostic malaria tests on fever management in the private retail sector in Ghana: a cluster randomized trial. BMJ 2015; 350:h1019. [PMID: 25739769 PMCID: PMC4353311 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h1019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of providing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria on fever management in private drug retail shops where most poor rural people with fever present, with the aim of reducing current massive overdiagnosis and overtreatment of malaria. DESIGN Cluster randomized trial of 24 clusters of shops. SETTING Dangme West, a poor rural district of Ghana. PARTICIPANTS Shops and their clients, both adults and children. INTERVENTIONS Providing rapid diagnostic tests with realistic training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the proportion of clients testing negative for malaria by a double-read research blood slide who received an artemisinin combination therapy or other antimalarial. Secondary outcomes were use of antibiotics and antipyretics, and safety. RESULTS Of 4603 clients, 3424 (74.4%) tested negative by double-read research slides. The proportion of slide-negative clients who received any antimalarial was 590/1854 (32%) in the intervention arm and 1378/1570 (88%) in the control arm (adjusted risk ratio 0.41 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.58), P<0.0001). Treatment was in high agreement with rapid diagnostic test result. Of those who were slide-positive, 690/787 (87.8%) in the intervention arm and 347/392 (88.5%) in the control arm received an artemisinin combination therapy (adjusted risk ratio 0.96 (0.84 to 1.09)). There was no evidence of antibiotics being substituted for antimalarials. Overall, 1954/2641 (74%) clients in the intervention arm and 539/1962 (27%) in the control arm received appropriate treatment (adjusted risk ratio 2.39 (1.69 to 3.39), P<0.0001). No safety concerns were identified. CONCLUSIONS Most patients with fever in Africa present to the private sector. In this trial, providing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in the private drug retail sector significantly reduced dispensing of antimalarials to patients without malaria, did not reduce prescribing of antimalarials to true malaria cases, and appeared safe. Rapid diagnostic tests should be considered for the informal private drug retail sector.Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01907672.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn K Ansah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, PO Box MB-190, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | | | - Bonnie Cundill
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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26
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Reynolds J, DiLiberto D, Mangham-Jefferies L, Ansah EK, Lal S, Mbakilwa H, Bruxvoort K, Webster J, Vestergaard LS, Yeung S, Leslie T, Hutchinson E, Reyburn H, Lalloo DG, Schellenberg D, Cundill B, Staedke SG, Wiseman V, Goodman C, Chandler CIR. The practice of 'doing' evaluation: lessons learned from nine complex intervention trials in action. Implement Sci 2014; 9:75. [PMID: 24935096 PMCID: PMC4079170 DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-9-75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is increasing recognition among trialists of the challenges in understanding how particular ‘real-life’ contexts influence the delivery and receipt of complex health interventions. Evaluations of interventions to change health worker and/or patient behaviours in health service settings exemplify these challenges. When interpreting evaluation data, deviation from intended intervention implementation is accounted for through process evaluations of fidelity, reach, and intensity. However, no such systematic approach has been proposed to account for the way evaluation activities may deviate in practice from assumptions made when data are interpreted. Methods A collective case study was conducted to explore experiences of undertaking evaluation activities in the real-life contexts of nine complex intervention trials seeking to improve appropriate diagnosis and treatment of malaria in varied health service settings. Multiple sources of data were used, including in-depth interviews with investigators, participant-observation of studies, and rounds of discussion and reflection. Results and discussion From our experiences of the realities of conducting these evaluations, we identified six key ‘lessons learned’ about ways to become aware of and manage aspects of the fabric of trials involving the interface of researchers, fieldworkers, participants and data collection tools that may affect the intended production of data and interpretation of findings. These lessons included: foster a shared understanding across the study team of how individual practices contribute to the study goals; promote and facilitate within-team communications for ongoing reflection on the progress of the evaluation; establish processes for ongoing collaboration and dialogue between sub-study teams; the importance of a field research coordinator bridging everyday project management with scientific oversight; collect and review reflective field notes on the progress of the evaluation to aid interpretation of outcomes; and these approaches should help the identification of and reflection on possible overlaps between the evaluation and intervention. Conclusion The lessons we have drawn point to the principle of reflexivity that, we argue, needs to become part of standard practice in the conduct of evaluations of complex interventions to promote more meaningful interpretations of the effects of an intervention and to better inform future implementation and decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Reynolds
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK.
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Ansah EK, Epokor M, Whitty CJM, Yeung S, Hansen KS. Cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing RDTs for malaria diagnosis as compared to microscopy and presumptive diagnosis in central and peripheral public health facilities in Ghana. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 89:724-736. [PMID: 23980131 PMCID: PMC3795104 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cost-effectiveness information on where malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) should be introduced is limited. We developed incremental cost-effectiveness analyses with data from rural health facilities in Ghana with and without microscopy. In the latter, where diagnosis had been presumptive, the introduction of RDTs increased the proportion of patients who were correctly treated in relation to treatment with antimalarials, from 42% to 65% at an incremental societal cost of Ghana cedis (GHS)12.2 (US$8.3) per additional correctly treated patients. In the "microscopy setting" there was no advantage to replacing microscopy by RDT as the cost and proportion of correctly treated patients were similar. Results were sensitive to a decrease in the cost of RDTs, which cost GHS1.72 (US$1.17) per test at the time of the study and to improvements in adherence to negative tests that was just above 50% for both RDTs and microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kristian Schultz Hansen
- *Address correspondence to Kristian Schultz Hansen, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK. E-mail:
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Ansah EK, Reynolds J, Akanpigbiam S, Whitty CJM, Chandler CIR. "Even if the test result is negative, they should be able to tell us what is wrong with us": a qualitative study of patient expectations of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria. Malar J 2013; 12:258. [PMID: 23876112 PMCID: PMC3723648 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The debate on rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria has begun to shift from whether RDTs should be used, to how and under what circumstances their use can be optimized. This has increased the need for a better understanding of the complexities surrounding the role of RDTs in appropriate treatment of fever. Studies have focused on clinician practices, but few have sought to understand patient perspectives, beyond notions of acceptability. Methods This qualitative study aimed to explore patient and caregiver perceptions and experiences of RDTs following a trial to assess the introduction of the tests into routine clinical care at four health facilities in one district in Ghana. Six focus group discussions and one in-depth interview were carried out with those who had received an RDT with a negative test result. Results Patients had high expectations of RDTs. They welcomed the tests as aiding clinical diagnoses and as tools that could communicate their problem better than they could, verbally. However, respondents also believed the tests could identify any cause of illness, beyond malaria. Experiences of patients suggested that RDTs were adopted into an existing system where patients are both physically and intellectually removed from diagnostic processes and where clinicians retain authority that supersedes tests and their results. In this situation, patients did not feel able to articulate a demand for test-driven diagnosis. Conclusions Improvements in communication between the health worker and patient, particularly to explain the capabilities of the test and management of RDT negative cases, may both manage patient expectations and promote patient demand for test-driven diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn K Ansah
- Dangme West District Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, PO Box DD1, Dodowa, Ghana.
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Chandler CIR, Whitty CJM, Ansah EK. How can malaria rapid diagnostic tests achieve their potential? A qualitative study of a trial at health facilities in Ghana. Malar J 2010; 9:95. [PMID: 20398262 PMCID: PMC2859355 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 04/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria are at the early stages of introduction across malaria endemic countries. This is central to efforts to decrease malaria overdiagnosis and the consequent overuse of valuable anti-malarials and underdiagnosis of alternative causes of fever. Evidence of the effect of introducing RDTs on the overprescription of anti-malarials is mixed. A recent trial in rural health facilities in Ghana reduced overprescription of anti-malarials, but found that 45.5% patients who tested negative with RDTs were still prescribed an anti-malarial. Methods A qualitative study of this trial was conducted, using in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of health workers involved in the trial, ranging from those who continued to prescribe anti-malarials to most patients with negative RDT results to those who largely restricted anti-malarials to patients with positive RDT results. Interviews explored the experiences of using RDTs and their results amongst trial participants. Results Meanings of RDTs were constructed by health workers through participation with the tests themselves as well as through interactions with colleagues, patients and the research team. These different modes of participation with the tests and their results led to a change in practice for some health workers, and reinforced existing practice for others. Many of the characteristics of RDTs were found to be inherently conducive to change, but the limited support from purveyors, lack of system antecedents for change and limited system readiness for change were apparent in the analysis. Conclusions When introduced with a limited supporting package, RDTs were variously interpreted and used, reflecting how health workers had learnt how to use RDT results through participation. To build confidence of health workers in the face of negative RDT results, a supporting package should include local preparation for the innovation; unambiguous guidelines; training in alternative causes of disease; regular support for health workers to meet as communities of practice; interventions that address negotiation of health worker-patient relationships and encourage self-reflection of practice; feedback systems for results of quality control of RDTs; feedback systems of the results of their practice with RDTs; and RDT augmentation such as a technical and/or clinical troubleshooting resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare I R Chandler
- Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
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Ansah EK, Narh-Bana S, Epokor M, Akanpigbiam S, Quartey AA, Gyapong J, Whitty CJM. Rapid testing for malaria in settings where microscopy is available and peripheral clinics where only presumptive treatment is available: a randomised controlled trial in Ghana. BMJ 2010; 340:c930. [PMID: 20207689 PMCID: PMC2833239 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test in West Africa the impact of rapid diagnostic tests on the prescription of antimalarials and antibiotics both where microscopy is used for the diagnosis of malaria and in clinical (peripheral) settings that rely on clinical diagnosis. DESIGN Randomised, controlled, open label clinical trial. SETTING Four clinics in the rural Dangme West district of southern Ghana, one in which microscopy is used for diagnosis of malaria ("microscopy setting") and three where microscopy is not available and diagnosis of malaria is made on the basis of clinical symptoms ("clinical setting"). PARTICIPANTS Patients with suspected malaria. Interventions Patients were randomly assigned to either a rapid diagnostic test or the current diagnostic method at the clinic (microscopy or clinical diagnosis). A blood sample for a research microscopy slide was taken for all patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the prescription of antimalarials to patients of any age whose double read research slide was negative for malaria. The major secondary outcomes were the correct prescription of antimalarials, the impact of test results on antibiotic prescription, and the correct prescription of antimalarials in children under 5 years. RESULTS Of the 9236 patients screened, 3452 were randomised in the clinical setting and 3811 in the microscopy setting. Follow-up to 28 days was 97.6% (7088/7263). In the microscopy setting, 722 (51.6%) of the 1400 patients with negative research slides in the rapid diagnostic test arm were treated for malaria compared with 764 (55.0%) of the 1389 patients in the microscopy arm (adjusted odds ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.1; P=0.16). In the clinical setting, 578 (53.9%) of the 1072 patients in the rapid diagnostic test arm with negative research slides were treated for malaria compared with 982 (90.1%) of the 1090 patients with negative slides in the clinical diagnosis arm (odds ratio 0.12, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.38; P=0.001). The use of rapid diagnostic tests led to better targeting of antimalarials and antibiotics in the clinical but not the microscopy setting, in both children and adults. There were no deaths in children under 5 years at 28 days follow-up in either arm. CONCLUSION Where microscopy already exists, introducing rapid diagnostic tests had limited impact on prescriber behaviour. In settings where microscopy was not available, however, using rapid diagnostic tests led to a significant reduction in the overprescription of antimalarials, without any evidence of clinical harm, and to better targeting of antibiotics. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00493922.
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Agyepong IA, Anafi P, Asiamah E, Ansah EK, Ashon DA, Narh-Dometey C. Health worker (internal customer) satisfaction and motivation in the public sector in Ghana. Int J Health Plann Manage 2005; 19:319-36. [PMID: 15688876 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes factors affecting health worker motivation and satisfaction in the public sector in Ghana. The data are from a survey of public sector health care providers carried out in January 2002 and repeated in August 2003 using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire. It is part of a continuous quality improvement (CQI) effort in the health sector in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Workplace obstacles identified that caused dissatisfaction and de-motivated staff in order of the most frequently mentioned were low salaries such that obtaining basic necessities of daily living becomes a problem; lack of essential equipment, tools and supplies to work with; delayed promotions; difficulties and inconveniences with transportation to work; staff shortages; housing, additional duty allowances and in-service (continuous) training. Others included children's education, vehicles to work with such as ambulances and pickups, staff transfer procedures, staff pre-service education inadequate for job requirements, and the effect of the job on family and other social factors. There were some differences in the percentages of staff selecting a given workplace obstacle between the purely rural districts, the highly urbanized Accra metropolis and the districts that were a mixture of urbanized and rural. It is unlikely that the Ghana Health Service can provide high quality of care to its end users (external customers) if workplace obstacles that de-motivate staff (internal customers) and negatively influence their performance are not properly recognized and addressed as a complex of inter-related problems producing a common result--dissatisfied poorly motivated staff and resulting poor quality services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Akua Agyepong
- Regional Health Administration, Greater Accra Region, Adabraka, Accra, Ghana.
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Ansah EK, Gyapong JO, Agyepong IA, Evans DB. Improving adherence to malaria treatment for children: the use of pre-packed chloroquine tablets vs. chloroquine syrup. Trop Med Int Health 2001; 6:496-504. [PMID: 11469941 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00740.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. Prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment of acute clinical episodes are essential to reduce morbidity and prevent complications and mortality. In many countries, chloroquine syrup is the mainstay of malaria treatment for children under five. Not only is syrup more expensive than tablets, adherence to the prescribed dose at home is a problem because mothers use wrongly sized measuring devices or have difficulty with the instructions. We investigated the impact of introducing pre-packed tablets for children on adherence to treatment and compared the total cost of the tablets with that of syrup. Children aged 0--5 years diagnosed with malaria at the clinic over a 6-week period received either pre-packed tablets or syrup by random assignment. The principal caregivers were interviewed at home on day 4 after attending the clinic. Of the 155 caregivers given pre-packed tablets, 91% (n=141) adhered to the recommended dosage, while only 42% (n=61) of 144 who were provided syrup did. Only 20% of caregivers who received syrup used an accurate 5 ml measure. The cost of treatment with tablets was about one-quarter that of syrup and 62% (n=96) of caregivers preferred tablets. Pre-packed chloroquine tablets are a viable alternative to syrup.
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Affiliation(s)
- E K Ansah
- Dangme West District, Ministry of Health, Dodowa, Ghana.
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