Thank you for downloading this publication. Please let us know why you chose this publication:
Why are you interested in this publication?
What organisation do you represent?
You will only need to complete this form once per browser/device
How do you prefer to read or receive publications?

We may contact you for feedback on the publication you have downloaded. If you do not want to be contacted, please leave the email field blank. Your information will never be shared with any third party.

Malaria Consortium US Donate
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • Our Strategy
    • Governance
    • Aid transparency
  • Projects
  • Where We Work
  • What we do
    • Diseases
    • Our responses
    • Burden reduction to elimination
    • Data-informed decision-making & digital approaches
    • Health sector resilience
    • Research & policy change
    • Networks & partnerships
  • News & Resources
    • News
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo stories
  • Publications
    • Interactive publications
  • Support us
  • Contact Us
  • Work with us
    • Tenders
  • Home
  • »
  • Resources
  • »
  • Publications
  • »
  • An assessment of the knowledge, practices and resources during the delivery of malaria health care services among private health care practitioners: A cross section study in the mid-western region of Uganda

Share this page

Resources

Latest

Publications

Publication Date:
10/08/2021

Type:
Journal article
Publication

An assessment of the knowledge, practices and resources during the delivery of malaria health care services among private health care practitioners: A cross section study in the mid-western region of Uganda
Author(s): H. Wanzira, D. Tumwine, P. Bukoma, A. Musiime, J. Biculu, T. Ediamu, S. Gudoi, JK. Tibenderana, R. Mulebeke, R. Nantanda, J. Achan

Publication Date:
10/08/2021
Type:
Journal article

Background

Approximately 50 percent of the population in Uganda seeks health care from private facilities but there is limited data on the quality of care for malaria in these facilities. This study aimed to document the knowledge, practices and resources during the delivery of malaria care services, among private health practitioners in the mid-western region of Uganda, an area of moderate malaria transmission.

Methods

This was a cross sectional study in which purposive sampling was used to select fifteen private-for-profit facilities from each district. An interviewer-administered questionnaire that contained both quantitative and open-ended questions was used. Information was collected on availability of treatment aides, knowledge on malaria, malaria case management, laboratory practices, malaria drugs stock and data management. We determined the proportion of health workers that adequately provided malaria case management according to national standards.

Results

Of the 135 health facilities staff interviewed, 61.48 percent (52.91–69.40) had access to malaria treatment protocols while 48.89 percent (40.19–57.63) received malaria training. The majority of facilities, 98.52 percent (94.75–99.82) had malaria diagnostic services and the most commonly available anti-malarial drug was artemether-lumefantrine, 85.19 percent (78–91), followed by Quinine, 74.81 percent (67–82) and intravenous artesunate, 72.59 percent (64–80). Only 14.07 percent (8.69–21.10) responded adequately to the acceptable cascade of malaria case management practice. Specifically, 33.33 percent (25.46–41.96) responded correctly to management of a patient with a fever, 40.00 percent (31.67–48.79) responded correctly to the first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, whereas 85.19 percent (78.05–90.71) responded correctly to severe malaria treatment. Only 28.83 percent submitted monthly reports, where malaria data was recorded, to the national database.

Conclusions

This study revealed sub-optimal malaria case management knowledge and practices at private health facilities with approximately 14 percent of health care workers demonstrating correct malaria case management cascade practices. To strengthen the quality of malaria case management, it is recommended that the NMCD distributes current guidelines and tools, coupled with training; continuous mentorship and supportive supervision; provision of adequate stock of essential anti-malarials and RDTs; reinforcing communication and behavior change; and increasing support for data management at private health facilities.

Published in BMC Health Services Research

Click here to download

Country: Uganda

Keywords: Research | Malaria | Quality improvement | SDG3

 

 

« Back to Publications

Sign up for our newsletter here:

Follow us on our social channels
  • Jobs
  • Contact us
  • Annual reviews
  • Support us
  • About us
  • Sitemap
  • Policies
  • Modern Slavery Statement
Fundraising Regulator logo
© 2022 Malaria Consortium | Charity No. 1099776 | Company No. 4785712