Rapid Diagnostic Testing and Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy for Uncomplicated Malaria by Community Health Workers

Karolinska University Hospital3,005 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of a rapid diagnostic test (Paracheck Pf) for the diagnosis of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria by community health workers at village level in Tanzania and how the use of rapid diagnostic test may influence prescription of antimalarial drugs. The hypothesis is that rapid diagnostic tests used by community health workers will reduce the use of antimalarial drugs (Coartem; Novartis) by 30% without affecting the health outcome.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

3,005

Conditions

Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria

Interventions

Rapid diagnostic test for malaria

We used Paracheck Pf® (Orchid Biomedical Systems, India) as rapid diagnostic test in this trial

Eligibility

Sex: ALL

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Fever * Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Severe clinical manifestations, which require immediate referral * Pregnancy * Previous enrollment in the study within the last 28 days

Locations (1)

Villages

Kibaha, Kibaha District, Tanzania

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of patients with fever prescribed artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of malaria in respective study groups

Time frame: 28 days

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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