Early experiences on the feasibility, acceptability and use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests at peripheral health centres in Uganda: Insights into some barriers and facilitators

Authors: Caroline Asiimwe, Daniel J Kyabayinze, Zephaniah Kyalisiima, Jane Nabakooza, Moses Bajabaite, Helen Counihan, James K Tibenderana

Abstract

While feasibility of new health technologies in well-resourced healthcare settings is extensively documented, it is largely unknown in low-resourced settings. Uganda’s decision to deploy and scale up malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) in public health facilities and at the community level provides a useful entry point for documenting field experience, acceptance, and predictive variables for technology acceptance and use. This study seeks to inform implementation of new health technologies, plans, and budgets in low resourced national disease control programmes. It reports that mRDTs were found to be acceptable to and used by the target users, provided clear policy guidelines exist, ancillary tools are easy to use and health supplies beyond the diagnostic tools are met. Based on their findings, the authors recommended that health workers’ needs for comprehensive case management should be met, and specific guidance for managing febrile patients with negative test outcomes should be provided alongside the new health technology. The extent, to which the implementation process of mRDT-led, parasite-based diagnosis accommodates end user beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and satisfaction, as well as technology learnability and suitability, influences the level of acceptance and use of mRDTs. The effectiveness of the health system in providing the enabling environment and the integration of the diagnostic tool into routine service delivery is critical.

Citation: Implementation Science, 2012; 7: 5.