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A qualitative study of perceptions of a mass test and treat campaign in Southern Zambia and potential barriers to effectiveness

Overview of attention for article published in Malaria Journal, April 2015
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2 X users

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Title
A qualitative study of perceptions of a mass test and treat campaign in Southern Zambia and potential barriers to effectiveness
Published in
Malaria Journal, April 2015
DOI 10.1186/s12936-015-0686-3
Pubmed ID
Authors

Kafula Silumbe, Elizabeth Chiyende, Timothy P Finn, Michelle Desmond, Chilunga Puta, Busiku Hamainza, Mulakwa Kamuliwo, David A Larsen, Thomas P Eisele, John Miller, Adam Bennett

Abstract

A mass test and treat campaign (MTAT) using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) was conducted in Southern Zambia in 2012 and 2013 to reduce the parasite reservoir and progress towards malaria elimination. Through this intervention, community health workers (CHWs) tested all household members with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and provided treatment to those that tested positive. A qualitative study was undertaken to understand CHW and community perceptions regarding the MTAT campaign. A total of eight focus groups and 33 in-depth and key informant interviews were conducted with CHWs, community members and health centre staff that participated in the MTAT. Interviews and focus groups with CHWs and community members revealed that increased knowledge of malaria prevention, the ability to reach people who live far from health centres, and the ability of the MTAT campaign to reduce the malaria burden were the greatest perceived benefits of the campaign. Conversely, the primary potential barriers to effectiveness included refusals to be tested, limited adherence to drug regimens, and inadequate commodity supply. Study respondents generally agreed that MTAT services were scalable outside of the study area but would require greater involvement from district and provincial medical staff. These findings highlight the importance of increased community sensitization as part of mass treatment campaigns for improving campaign coverage and acceptance. Further, they suggest that communication channels between the Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre and Medical Stores Limited may need to be improved so as to ensure there is consistent supply and management of commodities. Continued capacity building of CHWs and health facility supervisors is critical for a more effective programme and sustained progress towards malaria elimination.

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The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 2 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 99 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United Kingdom 1 1%
Unknown 98 99%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 17 17%
Student > Postgraduate 15 15%
Student > Ph. D. Student 13 13%
Researcher 12 12%
Student > Bachelor 7 7%
Other 16 16%
Unknown 19 19%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 29 29%
Nursing and Health Professions 13 13%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 10 10%
Social Sciences 9 9%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 5 5%
Other 11 11%
Unknown 22 22%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. 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 28 April 2015.
All research outputs
#16,023,053
of 24,580,204 outputs
Outputs from Malaria Journal
#4,304
of 5,786 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#152,239
of 270,223 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Malaria Journal
#73
of 115 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,580,204 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 34th percentile – i.e., 34% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
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 is in the 24th percentile – i.e., 24% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 270,223 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 42nd percentile – i.e., 42% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 115 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 32nd percentile – i.e., 32% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.