Introducing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria to drug shops in Uganda: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

• DOI: 10.2471/blt.14.142489
• Publication Date: 2015-02-26T12:51:25Z
• Authors: Jessica Cohen; Günther Fink; Kathleen Maloney; Katrina Berg; Matthew Jordan; Theodore Svoronos; Flavia Aber; William Dickens
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Research; 1. No poverty; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; 796; 3. Good health

Objective To evaluate the impact -on diagnosis and treatment of malaria -of introducing rapid diagnostic tests to drug shops in eastern Uganda.Methods Overall, 2193 households 79 study villages with at least one licensed shop were enrolled monitored for 12 months.After 3 months monitoring, vendors 67 randomly selected intervention offered training use -if trained -offered access such a subsidized price.The remaining served as controls.A difference-in-differences regression model was used estimate intervention.Findings Vendors from 92 successfully completed 50 actively stocked performed tests.Over 9 months, did an average 146 per shop.Households reported 22 697 episodes febrile illness.The availability local significantly increased probability any illness being tested by 23.15% (P = 0.015) treated antimalarial 8.84% 0.056).The that artemisinin combination therapy bought statistically insignificant 5.48% 0.574).Conclusion In our area, testing providing them price.Additional interventions may be needed achieve higher coverage rate appropriate responses test results.