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dc.contributor.authorCohen, Jessica
dc.contributor.authorFink, Günther
dc.contributor.authorBerg, Katrina
dc.contributor.authorAber, Flavia
dc.contributor.authorJordan, Matthew
dc.contributor.authorMaloney, Kathleen
dc.contributor.authorDickens, William
dc.date.accessioned2013-04-23T18:35:56Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.identifier.citationCohen, Jessica, Günther Fink, Katrina Berg, Flavia Aber, Matthew Jordan, Kathleen Maloney, and William Dickens. 2012. Feasibility of distributing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in the retail sector: evidence from an implementation study in Uganda. PLoS ONE 7(11): e48296.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10579668
dc.description.abstractBackground: Despite the benefits of malaria diagnosis, most presumed malaria episodes are never tested. A primary reason is the absence of diagnostic tests in retail establishments, where many patients seek care. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in drug shops hold promise for guiding appropriate treatment. However, retail providers generally lack awareness of RDTs and training to administer them. Further, unsubsidized RDTs may be unaffordable to patients and unattractive to retailers. This paper reports results from an intervention study testing the feasibility of RDT distribution in Ugandan drug shops. Methods and Findings: 92 drug shops in 58 villages were offered subsidized RDTs for sale after completing training. Data on RDT purchases, storage, administration and disposal were collected, and samples were sent for quality testing. Household surveys were conducted to capture treatment outcomes. Estimated daily RDT sales varied substantially across shops, from zero to 8.46 RDTs per days. Overall compliance with storage, treatment and disposal guidelines was excellent. All RDTs (100%) collected from shops passed quality testing. The median price charged for RDTs was 1000USH ($0.40), corresponding to a 100% markup, and the same price as blood slides in local health clinics. RDTs affected treatment decisions. RDT-positive patients were 23 percentage points more likely to buy Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) (p = .005) and 33.1 percentage points more likely to buy other antimalarials (p<.001) than RDT-negative patients, and were 5.6 percentage points more likely to buy ACTs (p = .05) and 31.4 percentage points more likely to buy other antimalarials (p<.001) than those not tested at all. Conclusions: Despite some heterogeneity, shops demonstrated a desire to stock RDTs and use them to guide treatment recommendations. Most shops stored, administered and disposed of RDTs properly and charged mark-ups similar to those charged on common medicines. Results from this study suggest that distributing RDTs through the retail sector is feasible and can reduce inappropriate treatment for suspected malaria.en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_US
dc.relation.isversionofdoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048296en_US
dc.relation.hasversionhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3495947/pdf/en_US
dash.licenseLAA
dc.subjectMedicineen_US
dc.subjectGlobal Healthen_US
dc.subjectInfectious Diseasesen_US
dc.subjectParasitic Diseasesen_US
dc.subjectMalariaen_US
dc.subjectPlasmodium Falciparumen_US
dc.subjectInfectious Disease Controlen_US
dc.subjectPublic Healthen_US
dc.subjectBehavioral and Social Aspects of Healthen_US
dc.subjectSocial and Behavioral Sciencesen_US
dc.subjectEconomicsen_US
dc.subjectMicroeconomicsen_US
dc.subjectSupply and Demanden_US
dc.subjectHealth Economicsen_US
dc.subjectPublic Financeen_US
dc.titleFeasibility of Distributing Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria in the Retail Sector: Evidence from an Implementation Study in Ugandaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
dc.description.versionVersion of Recorden_US
dc.relation.journalPLoS ONEen_US
dash.depositing.authorCohen, Jessica
dc.date.available2013-04-23T18:35:56Z
dc.identifier.doi10.1371/journal.pone.0048296*
dash.contributor.affiliatedCohen, Jessica


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