Longitudinal analysis of the capacities of community health workers mobilized for seasonal malaria chemoprevention in Burkina Faso

Results of the study confirm the capacity of community health workers, or “community-based distributors” (CBDs), under routine programme implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC). Mandating CBDs with targeted tasks is a successful functional model, as they achieve mastery where investments are made in training and supervision. Losing this specificity by extending CBDs’ mandates beyond SMC could have undesirable consequences. The added value of retaining committed CBDs is high. It is suggested that motivation and commitment be considered in recruitment, and that a supportive climate be created to foster retention of workers.Global Affairs Canada (GAC)Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR

Analysis of the quality of seasonal malaria chemoprevention provided by community health workers in Boulsa health district, Burkina Faso

The study evaluated the level of quality of care provided by community health workers (CHW) within the framework of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) strategy. Results have shown that despite the difficulties faced by community health workers, they manage to deliver acceptable quality of care. The SMC’s administration guide proposed by WHO was the standard for CHW’s quality assessment and an important factor supporting the study. The report reviews details of methodology and outcomes of the project as well as providing background to the SMC strategy. This study was conducted in the Boulsa health district, located in the north-central region of Burkina Faso

Regional heterogeneity of malaria prevalence and associated risk factors among children under five in Togo: evidence from a national malaria indicators survey.

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and death among children less than 5 years of age. In Togo, despite intensification of malaria control interventions, malaria remained highly prevalent, with significant heterogeneity from one region to another. The aim of this study is to explore further such regional differences in malaria prevalence and to determine associated risk factors. METHODS: Data from a 2017 cross-sectional nationally representative malaria indicator survey was used. Children aged 6–59 months in selected households were tested for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), confirmed by microscopy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed using Generalized Linear Models. RESULTS: A total of 2131 children aged 6–59 months (1983 in rural areas, 989 in urban areas) were enrolled. Overall 28% of children tested positive for malaria, ranging from 7.0% in the Lomé Commune region to 4% 7.1 in the Plateaux region. In multivariate analysis, statistically significant differences between regions persisted. Independent risk factors identified were higher children aged (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.13–1.88]) for those above 24 months compared to those below; households wealth quintile (aOR = 0.22, 95% CI [0.11–0.41]) for those richest compared to those poorest quintiles; residence in rural areas (aOR = 2.02, 95% CI [1.32–3.13]). CONCLUSION: Interventions that target use of combined prevention measures should prioritise on older children living in poorest households in rural areas, particularly in the regions of high malaria prevalence