Assessing coverage and quality of seasonal malaria chemoprevention before and during scale-up in Uganda

Authors: Musa Odongo, Anthony Nuwa, Chucks Nnaji, Tonny Kyagulanyi, David Salandini Odong, Jane Nabakooza, Richard Kajubi, Maureen Nakirunda, Damian Rutazaana, Denis Rubahika, Godfrey Magumba, Jimmy Opigo

Seasonal malaria chemoprevention was successfully scaled up in the Karamoja region of Uganda, a new geographical context, achieving good coverage and quality.

In 2021, Uganda introduced seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (SPAQ). In 2022, SMC was scaled-up to eight districts in the Karamoja region where malaria transmission is highly seasonal, targeting over 200,000 children 3–59 months. SMC medicines were delivered by village health teams (VHTs) using a door-to-door approach over five monthly cycles. A full course of SPAQ was completed over a three-day period. Caregivers administered day 1 doses as directly observed treatment (DOT), supervised by VHTs, while day 2 and 3 doses were administered independently by caregivers.

This poster was presented at the 72nd annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.