COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN THE CONTROL OF MALARIA AND NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Abstract

Review Objective This review comprises of a quantitative and a qualitative component, which together aim to examine the role of CHWs in the control of malaria and NTDs. More specifically, the review question(s) are: Quantitative • Are the services provided by CHWs effective in the control of NTDs in comparison with those provided by trained healthcare professionals in sub-Saharan Africa? • Are the services provided by CHWs effective in the control of malaria in comparison with those provided by trained healthcare professionals in sub-Saharan Africa? Qualitative What are the experiences of CHWs in delivering tools and drugs for the control of malaria and NTDs in sub-Saharan Africa? Criteria for considering studies for this review Types of participants Quantitative This component of the review will consider studies that include the effectiveness of services provided by CHWs living in sub Saharan Africa Qualitative This component of the review will consider studies that include CHWs living in sub Saharan Africa Types of interventions/Phenomena of Interest Quantitative This component of the review will consider studies that include the following interventions provided by CHWs: • Antimalarial interventions such as distribution of Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACTs). • Distribution of insecticide-treated nets to household level. • Administration of Chemoprophylaxis and intermittent preventive treatment. • Sensitization for insecticide residual house spraying Qualitative This component of the review will consider studies that include the experiences of CHWs in delivering antimalarial and NTD treatments in sub Saharan Africa. Types of outcome measures/anticipated outcomes Quantitative This component of the review may anticipate outcomes that impact on a whole population or may impact on an individual level as follows: Population outcomes may include: Incidence or prevalence of malaria and/or NTDs, morbidity/mortality rates, use of insecticide treated nets, acceptability and coverage of residual house spraying, use of intermittent presumptive treatment, reduced number of people who complete preventive treatment for malaria and NTD cases, anaemia rates, parasite density, parasite rates and fever rates. Proportion of under-5 malaria cases proportion of cases receiving correct dose, community awareness of educational messages of antimalarial and NTDs, TRUNCATED AT 350 WORDS