Evaluation of anti-malarial treatment for elimination of malaria in South West Ethiopia: a concurrent triangulation design for prompt decision.

Abstract

Background: Malaria case management is a vital component of strategies to ensure malaria elimination programme. Despite continuous preventive strategies in place, malaria remains a major public health problem in resource-limited countries particularly in Ethiopia due to treatment-related problems. Hence, this study aimed to determine the level of adherence to malaria diagnosis and treatment guidelines among healthcare providers working in the public health facilities in Southwest Ethiopian Peoples Regional State (SWEPRS).

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study triangulated with qualitative inquiry was applied from March 2024 and July 2024. A multi-stage stratified and purposive sampling technique was used for the quantitative and qualitative study, respectively. Data were collected by the records review, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and In-depth Interviews (IDIs). The adherence of healthcare providers was evaluated according to recommendations of the current malaria diagnosis and treatment guidelines. The findings in the qualitative analysis were presented in the thematic analysis and triangulated with the quantitative findings.

Results: 1,684 patient cards were reviewed. The mean age of patients was 20.99 (± 15.61) years. 1,616 (95.96%) patients were screened through microscopy and/or multispecies rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). The overall adherence of healthcare providers to the updated malaria treatment standards was 36.99% (95%CI: 33.93-38.52%) and the majority, 982 (58.31%) were diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum followed by Plasmodium vivax, and mixed infections. Shortage of anti-malarial drugs was reported as the foremost barrier followed by lack of training on the updated malaria case management guideline, shortage of health professionals, and lack of laboratory materials. In addition, shortage of electric supply, shortage of computers, shortage of outpatient department (OPD) rooms, lack of transport, distance from a health facility, community resistance, improper use of prescribed anti-malarial drugs, perceived inefficacy of drugs, inability to afford the anti-malarial drugs, lack of new malaria case management guideline, lack of private pharmacy, language barriers, and poor quality of Giemsa, were identified barriers.

Conclusions: The adherence level of healthcare providers was found to be low. Hence, ensuring the availability of all nationally recommended anti-malarial drugs and supplies, qualified health professionals, providing continuous training, strengthening continuous follow-up and supervision in the public health facilities are recommended to improve the adherence level of health professionals to national malaria treatment guideline.