| Title |
Village malaria worker performance key to the elimination of artemisinin-resistant malaria: a Western Cambodia health system assessment
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Malaria Journal, May 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1186/s12936-016-1322-6 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Sara E. Canavati, Saranath Lawpoolsri, Cesia E. Quintero, Chea Nguon, Po Ly, Sasithon Pukrittayakamee, David Sintasath, Pratap Singhasivanon, Koen Peeters Grietens, Maxine Anne Whittaker |
| Abstract |
Village malaria workers (VMWs) and mobile malaria workers (MMWs) are a critical component of Cambodia's national strategy to eliminate Plasmodium falciparum malaria by 2025. Since 2004, VMWs have been providing malaria diagnosis through the use of rapid diagnostic tests and free-of-charge artemisinin-based combination therapy in villages more than 5 km away from the closest health facility. They have also played a key role in the delivery of behaviour change communication interventions to this target population. This study aimed to assess the job performance of VMWs/MMWs, and identify challenges they face, which may impede elimination efforts. A mixed-methods assessment was conducted in five provinces of western Cambodia. One hundred and eighty five VMW/MMW participants were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data was gathered through a total of 60 focus group discussions and 65 in-depth interviews. Data triangulation of the qualitative and quantitative data was used during analysis. Overall, VMWs/MMWs met or exceeded the expected performance levels (80 %). Nevertheless, some performance gaps were identified. Misconceptions regarding malaria transmission and prevention were found among workers. The recommended approach for malaria treatment, directly-observed treatment (DOT), had low implementation rates. Stock-outs, difficulties in reaching out to migrant and mobile populations, insufficient means of transportation and dwindling worker satisfaction also affected job performance. VMW/MMW job performance must be increased from 80 to 100 % in order to achieve elimination. In order to do this, it is recommended for the national malaria programme to eliminate worker malaria knowledge gaps. Barriers to DOT implementation and health system failures also need to be addressed. The VMW programme should be expanded on several fronts in order to tackle remaining performance gaps. Findings from this evaluation are useful to inform the planning of future activities of the programme and to improve the effectiveness of interventions in a context where artemisinin drug resistance is a significant public health issue. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 7 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 2 | 29% |
| Indonesia | 1 | 14% |
| United States | 1 | 14% |
| Unknown | 3 | 43% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 5 | 71% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 29% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 162 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 161 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 32 | 20% |
| Student > Master | 32 | 20% |
| Student > Bachelor | 12 | 7% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 10 | 6% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 9 | 6% |
| Other | 28 | 17% |
| Unknown | 39 | 24% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 43 | 27% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 17 | 10% |
| Social Sciences | 14 | 9% |
| Business, Management and Accounting | 7 | 4% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 5 | 3% |
| Other | 25 | 15% |
| Unknown | 51 | 31% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 6. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 26 September 2016.
All research outputs
#6,312,234
of 24,580,204 outputs
Outputs from Malaria Journal
#1,550
of 5,786 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#94,249
of 339,631 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Malaria Journal
#33
of 154 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,580,204 research outputs across all sources so far. This one has received more attention than most of these and is in the 74th percentile.
So far Altmetric has tracked 5,786 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 6.9. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 72% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 154 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done well, scoring higher than 78% of its contemporaries.