Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36802396›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Adherence to the test, treat and track strategy for malaria control among prescribers, Mfantseman Municipality, Central Region, Ghana.

Ernestina Esinam Agbemafle, Adolphina Addo-Lartey, Magdalene Akos Odikro, Joseph Asamoah Frimpong, Chrysantus Kubio, Donne Kofi Ameme, Samuel Oko Sackey, Harriet Affran Bonful

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In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
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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

8 authors.

Ernestina Esinam AgbemafleMercy Women's Catholic Hospital, Mankessim, Ghana.
Adolphina Addo-LarteyDepartment of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Magdalene Akos OdikroGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-2510-1719
Joseph Asamoah FrimpongGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Chrysantus KubioSavannah Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Damongo, Ghana.
Donne Kofi AmemeGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Samuel Oko SackeyGhana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Harriet Affran BonfulDepartment of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe test, treat, and track (T3) strategy is directed at ensuring diagnosis and prompt treatment of uncomplicated malaria cases. Adherence to T3 strategy reduces wrong treatment and prevents delays in treating the actual cause of fever that may otherwise lead to complications or death. Data on adherence to all three aspects of the T3 strategy is sparse with previous studies focusing on the testing and treatment aspects. We determined adherence to the T3 strategy and associated factors in the Mfantseman Municipality of Ghana.

methodsWe conducted a health facility based cross-sectional survey in Saltpond Municipal Hospital and Mercy Women's Catholic Hospitals in Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, Ghana in 2020. We retrieved electronic records of febrile outpatients and extracted the testing, treatment and tracking variables. Prescribers were interviewed on factors associated with adherence using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analyses was done using descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression.

resultsOf 414 febrile outpatient records analyzed, 47 (11.3%) were under five years old. About 180 (43.5%) were tested with 138 (76.7%) testing positive. All positive cases received antimalarials and 127 (92.0%) were reviewed after treatment. Of 414 febrile patients, 127 (30.7%) were treated according to the T3 strategy. Higher odds of adherence to T3 were observed for patients aged 5-25 years compared to older patients (AOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.27-4.87, p = 0.008). Adherence was low among physician assistants compared to medical officers (AOR 0.004, 95% CI 0.004-0.02, p<0.001). Prescribers trained on T3 had higher adherence (AOR: 99.33 95% CI: 19.53-505.13, p<0.000).

conclusionAdherence to T3 strategy is low in Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana. Health facilities should perform RDTs for febrile patients at the OPD with priority on low cadre prescribers during the planning and implementation of interventions to improve T3 adherence at the facility level.

Indexed as

AntimalarialsMalariaChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFeverGhanaHealth PersonnelHumansAntimalarials

Identifiers

PMID36802396
PMCPMC9942999

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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.