Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39972481›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2025

Conceptualizing the implementation of post-discharge malaria chemoprevention in Malawi using a co-design approach.

Myness Kasanda Ndambo, Kristine Bærøe, Kamija Samuel Phiri, Isabel-Kazanga Chiumia, Inger Lise Teig, Bjarne Robberstad, Oddvar Martin Kaarbøe, Melf-Jakob Kühl, Jobiba Chinkhumba, Thandile Nkosi-Gondwe and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

14 authors.

Myness Kasanda NdamboSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi. mynessndambo@gmail.com.
Kristine BærøeInstitute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Kamija Samuel PhiriSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Isabel-Kazanga ChiumiaSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Inger Lise TeigHealth Economics, Leadership, and Translational Ethics Research Group, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Bjarne RobberstadHealth Economics, Leadership, and Translational Ethics Research Group, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Oddvar Martin KaarbøeHealth Economics, Leadership, and Translational Ethics Research Group, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Melf-Jakob KühlHealth Economics, Leadership, and Translational Ethics Research Group, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Jobiba ChinkhumbaSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Thandile Nkosi-GondweTraining and Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Blantyre, Malawi.
Tinashe Alinafe TizifaTraining and Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Blantyre, Malawi.
Elisabeth Mamani-MategulaSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Lumbani MunthaliNational Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Lucinda Manda-TaylorSchool of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSevere malaria poses a significant challenge to under-five children in Malawi, leading to high rates of hospitalization and mortality. The World Health Organization has recently recommended post-discharge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) as a preventive strategy for under-five children with severe anaemia in malaria-endemic regions. In response to this recommendation, Malawi's Ministry of Health (MoH) plans to implement PDMC nationwide. To facilitate effective implementation, the MoH has partnered with the Training and Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE) to conduct PDMC delivery trials to gather evidence for practical implementation in Malawi and similar settings. A key component of this initiative involved the MoH leading the co-design workshops with key stakeholders to foster collaboration, spur innovation, and develop user-centred strategies. This collaborative effort aimed to investigate optimal PDMC implementation strategies to guide the scale-up in Malawi and contribute to policy-making processes that enhance transparency, accountability, and ownership.

methodsThis participatory action research occurred in the Salima district, Malawi, from 11 to 12 May 2023. Two co-design workshops were utilized, involving policymakers (n = 15), healthcare providers (n = 8), and prospective users (n = 2). The approach consisted of two stages. First, separate information-gathering sessions were held with policymakers, healthcare providers, and prospective users. Second, a structured discussion was facilitated, allowing collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers, and prospective users to develop strategies for delivering and integrating the intervention. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and manually analyzed using a thematic approach.

resultsThe inductive analysis yielded four overarching themes from the data. These key themes are PDMC adaptability, trialability, implementability, and sustainability. Stakeholders recommended adopting PDMC in Malawi, with health facilities as the optimal delivery option, ensuring that discharged children receive dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine doses for three months. PDMC aligns with existing systems, offering integration opportunities for managing childhood illnesses. However, gaps in policy development, approval, and health system strengthening-including supply chain, monitoring, evaluation, and follow-up-must be addressed to ensure PDMC's sustainability.

conclusionsThe co-design results indicate stakeholders' willingness to adopt and implement PDMC in Malawi. However, there is an awareness of the challenges that must be addressed to facilitate PDMC's successful implementation and sustainability.

Indexed as

AntimalarialsChemopreventionMalariaChild, PreschoolHumansInfantMalawiPatient DischargeAntimalarialsCo-designDihydroartemisinin piperaquineImplementationMalawiPost-discharge malaria chemopreventionPost-discharge malaria continuum of careSevere anaemiaSevere malariaSub-Saharan Africa

Identifiers

PMID39972481
PMCPMC11837697

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.