ArticleMalaria journal2022
Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards malaria diagnostics among healthcare providers and healthcare-seekers in Kondoa district, Tanzania: a multi-methodological situation analysis.
Article in Malaria journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Low practical knowledge but high willingness to use malaria rapid diagnostic tests among healthcare workers in the Republic of Congo.BMC public health · 2026Article
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- Health facility revisit and its associated factors among clients utilizing public health facilities in Zanzibar: a retrospective cohort study.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Ticks and Tick-Borne Zoonoses among Mixed Farming and Pastoral Communities in Gairo and Monduli Districts, Tanzania.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2025Article
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- Developing the OpenFlexure Microscope towards medical use: technical and social challenges of developing globally accessible hardware for healthcare.Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences · 2024Article
- Implementation of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing for Plasmodium vivax case management, a mixed method study from Cambodia.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDespite the large-scale rollout of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in Tanzania, many healthcare providers (HCPs) continue using blood film microscopy (BFM) and clinical examination to diagnose malaria, which can increase the risk of mal-diagnosis and over-prescribing of anti-malarials. Patients disregarding negative test results and self-treating exacerbate the problem. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HCPs and healthcare-seekers regarding RDTs in comparison to BFM testing.
methodsA situational analysis was, therefore, conducted in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania. A multi-methodological approach was adopted including (i) a health facility inventory and screening of logbooks from May 2013 to April 2014 with 77,126 patient entries from 33 health facilities; (ii) a survey of 40 HCPs offering malaria services; and iii) a survey of 309 randomly selected household members from the facilities' catchment area. Surveys took place in April and May 2014.
resultsHealth facility records revealed that out of 77,126 patient entries, 22% (n = 17,235) obtained a malaria diagnosis. Of those, 45% were made with BFM, 33% with RDT and 22% with clinical diagnosis. A higher rate of positive diagnoses was observed with BFM compared with RDT (71% vs 14%). In the HCP survey, 48% preferred using BFM for malaria testing, while 52% preferred RDT. Faced with a negative RDT result for a patient presenting with symptoms typical for malaria, 25% of HCPs stated they would confirm the result with a microscopy test, 70% would advise or perform a clinical diagnosis and 18% would prescribe anti-malarials. Interviews with household members revealed a preference for microscopy testing (58%) over RDT (23%), if presented with malaria symptoms. For participants familiar with both tests, a second opinion was desired in 45% after a negative microscopy result and in 90% after an RDT.
conclusionsNon-adherence to negative diagnostics by HCPs and patients continues to be a concern. Frequent training and supportive supervision for HCPs diagnosing and treating malaria and non-malaria febrile illnesses is essential to offer quality services that can instil confidence in HCPs and patients alike. The introduction of new diagnostic devices should be paired with context-specific behaviour change interventions targeting healthcare-seekers and healthcare providers.
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