Introducing malaria rapid diagnostic tests in private medicine retail outlets: A systematic literature review
Open/View files
Date
2017
Author(s)
Visser, Theodoor
Bruxvoort, Katia
Maloney, Kathleen
Leslie, Toby
Barat, Lawrence M.
Allan, Richard
Ansah, Evelyn K.
Anyanti, Jennifer
Boulton, Ian
Clarke, Siân E.
Cohen, Justin M.
Cutherell, Andrea
Dolkart, Caitlin
Eves, Katie
Fink, Günther
Goodman, Catherine
Hutchinson, Eleanor
Lal, Sham
Mbonye, Anthony
Onwujekwe, Obinna
Petty, Nora
Pontarollo, Julie
Poyer, Stephen
Schellenberg, David
Streat, Elizabeth
Ward, Abigail
Wiseman, Virginia
Whitty, Christopher J. M.
Yeung, Shunmay
Cunningham, Jane
Chandler, Clare I. R.
Publisher
Public Library of Science
The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you.
Citation
Visser, T., K. Bruxvoort, K. Maloney, T. Leslie, L. M. Barat, R. Allan, E. K. Ansah, et al. 2017. “Introducing malaria rapid diagnostic tests in private medicine retail outlets: A systematic literature review.” PLoS ONE 12 (3): e0173093. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173093. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173093.
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 Methods: Published and unpublished studies that introduced malaria RDTs in PMRs were systematically identified and reviewed. Literature published before November 2016 was searched in six electronic databases, and unpublished studies were identified through personal contacts and stakeholder meetings.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 Results: Six published and six unpublished studies were found.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.
Other Available Sources
Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material (LAA), as set forth at Terms of Service
Collection