Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36227933›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

The impact of COVID-19 on implementation of mass testing, treatment and tracking of malaria in rural communities in Ghana: A qualitative study.

Ndong Ignatius Cheng, Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong, Palmer Masumbe Netongo, Benedicta Ayiedu Mensah, Chuo Ennestine Chu, Effah-Baafi Yaw, Juliana Yartey Enos, Keziah Malm, Collins Stephen Ahorlu

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Ndong Ignatius ChengFaculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon.ORCID 0000-0003-1073-3956
Philip Teg-Nefaah TabongDepartment of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Palmer Masumbe NetongoNavajo Technical University Crownpoint, Crownpoint, New Mexico, United States of America.
Benedicta Ayiedu MensahNoguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Chuo Ennestine ChuNoguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Effah-Baafi YawNoguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-0770-0232
Juliana Yartey EnosNoguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Keziah MalmGhana National Malaria Control Programme, Accra, Ghana.
Collins Stephen AhorluFaculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon.
University of Ghana · GHCatholic University of Cameroon · CMUniversité de Yaoundé I · CM

Funding

Research Mentoring and Building Capacity of underrepresented Minority Research Scientists in India.D43TW010540 · FIC · YALE UNIVERSITY · PI MICHELE BARRY, Eva Harris · 2017 to 2026
$15.5M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW010540
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMass test, treat and track (MTTT) of malaria is ongoing in the Pakro sub district of Ghana. In the delivery of MTTT of malaria, community health volunteers are trained to routinely provide this service through a door-to-door strategy. Following the report of the first cases of COVID-19 in Ghana, we conducted this study to explore the effects of the pandemic on the implementation of the MTTT of malaria intervention.

methodsUsing qualitative methodology, we conducted ten focus groups discussions (FGDs) in eight communities: eight with community members (N = 49); one with health workers (N = 6), and one with MTTT of malaria volunteers. In addition, two in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, one with health worker and another with a health manager. All interviews were recorded, translated into English during transcription and analysed using QSR NVivo 12. Thematic content analysis was used in this study.

resultsThe findings of the study showed an increase in the number of people reporting with complications of malaria in health facilities in the study communities during the COVID-19 period. Some participants were of the view that COVID-19 rumours and misinformation could largely be responsible for the low coverage and uptake of the MTTT of malaria intervention. To sustain the uptake of the MTTT intervention, community engagement strategies were employed to identify and respond to these rumours. Also, incentive schemes were introduced to encourage parents and children to participate in the MTTT intervention during this period of COVID-19.

conclusionFindings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the provision and uptake of malaria prevention and treatment services, especially the MTTT of malaria being implemented at the community level. These observations underscore the need to find innovative ways to address the challenges encountered in providing essential services during public health emergencies.

Indexed as

COVID-19MalariaChildCOVID-19 TestingGhanaHumansPandemicsRural Population

Identifiers

PMID36227933
PMCPMC9560137
OpenAlexW4305042057

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.