IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0286718.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving malaria case management with artemisinin-based combination therapies and malaria rapid diagnostic tests in private medicine retail outlets in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Goodman
  • Sarah Tougher
  • Terrissa Jing Shang
  • Theodoor Visser

Abstract

Private medicine retailers (PMRs) such as pharmacies and drug stores account for a substantial share of treatment-seeking for fever and malaria, but there are widespread concerns about quality of care, including inadequate access to malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). This review synthesizes evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to improve malaria case management in PMRs in sub-Saharan Africa (PROSPERO #2021:CRD42021253564). We included quantitative studies evaluating interventions supporting RDT and/or ACT sales by PMR staff, with a historical or contemporaneous control group, and outcomes related to care received. We searched Medline Ovid, Embase Ovid, Global Health Ovid, Econlit Ovid and the Cochrane Library; unpublished studies were identified by contacting key informants. We conducted a narrative synthesis by intervention category. We included 41 papers, relating to 34 studies. There was strong evidence that small and large-scale ACT subsidy programmes (without RDTs) increased the market share of quality-assured ACT in PMRs, including among rural and poorer groups, with increases of over 30 percentage points in most settings. Interventions to introduce or enhance RDT use in PMRs led to RDT uptake among febrile clients of over two-thirds and dispensing according to RDT result of over three quarters, though some studies had much poorer results. Introducing Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) was also effective in improving malaria case management. However, there were no eligible studies on RDT or iCCM implementation at large scale. There was limited evidence that PMR accreditation (without RDTs) increased ACT uptake. Key evidence gaps include evaluations of RDTs and iCCM at large scale, evaluations of interventions including use of digital technologies, and robust studies of accreditation and other broader PMR interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Goodman & Sarah Tougher & Terrissa Jing Shang & Theodoor Visser, 2024. "Improving malaria case management with artemisinin-based combination therapies and malaria rapid diagnostic tests in private medicine retail outlets in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(7), pages 1-35, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0286718
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286718
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0286718
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0286718&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0286718?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jessica Cohen & Pascaline Dupas & Simone Schaner, 2015. "Price Subsidies, Diagnostic Tests, and Targeting of Malaria Treatment: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(2), pages 609-645, February.
    2. Daniel Rose & Jessica Vernon & Rachel Silverman & Elizabeth Juma & Maria Dieci & Prashant Yadav, 2020. "Malaria Case Management After the Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria (AMFm): Availability, Quality, and Market Share for ACTs in Kenya’s Private Pharmacies," Working Papers 561, Center for Global Development.
    3. Anthony K Mbonye & Pascal Magnussen & Sham Lal & Kristian S Hansen & Bonnie Cundill & Clare Chandler & Siân E Clarke, 2015. "A Cluster Randomised Trial Introducing Rapid Diagnostic Tests into Registered Drug Shops in Uganda: Impact on Appropriate Treatment of Malaria," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Theodoor Visser & Katia Bruxvoort & Kathleen Maloney & Toby Leslie & Lawrence M Barat & Richard Allan & Evelyn K Ansah & Jennifer Anyanti & Ian Boulton & Siân E Clarke & Jessica L Cohen & Justin M Coh, 2017. "Introducing malaria rapid diagnostic tests in private medicine retail outlets: A systematic literature review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-24, March.
    5. Julia R G Raifman & Heather E Lanthorn & Slawa Rokicki & Günther Fink, 2014. "The Impact of Text Message Reminders on Adherence to Antimalarial Treatment in Northern Ghana: A Randomized Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-10, October.
    6. Sarah Tougher & Kara Hanson & Catherine A. Goodman, 2021. "Does subsidizing the private for‐profit sector benefit the poor? Evidence from national antimalarial subsidies in Nigeria and Uganda," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(10), pages 2510-2530, September.
    7. Beth P Kangwana & Sarah V Kedenge & Abdisalan M Noor & Victor A Alegana & Andrew J Nyandigisi & Jayesh Pandit & Greg W Fegan & James E Todd & Simon Brooker & Robert W Snow & Catherine A Goodman, 2011. "The Impact of Retail-Sector Delivery of Artemether–Lumefantrine on Malaria Treatment of Children under Five in Kenya: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Jacqueline Fiore, 2017. "The Impact of Subsidized Antimalarials on Treatment Seeking Behavior," Working Papers 1717, Tulane University, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2018.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cohen, Jessica & Saran, Indrani, 2018. "The impact of packaging and messaging on adherence to malaria treatment: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Uganda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 68-95.
    2. Sergi Alonso & Khátia Munguambe & Elisa Sicuri, 2017. "Market for Artemether‐Lumefantrine to treat childhood malaria in a district of southern Mozambique," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(12), pages 345-360, December.
    3. Jessica L Cohen & Prashant Yadav & Corrina Moucheraud & Sarah Alphs & Peter S Larson & Jean Arkedis & Julius Massaga & Oliver Sabot, 2013. "Do Price Subsidies on Artemisinin Combination Therapy for Malaria Increase Household Use?: Evidence from a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in Remote Regions of Tanzania," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-10, July.
    4. Kristian Schultz Hansen & Siân E Clarke & Sham Lal & Pascal Magnussen & Anthony K Mbonye, 2017. "Cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing malaria diagnostic testing in drug shops: A cluster-randomised trial in Uganda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Alessandro Tarozzi & Ricardo Maertens & Kazi Matin Ahmed & Alexander van Geen, 2021. "Demand for Information on Environmental Health Risk, Mode of Delivery, and Behavioral Change: Evidence from Sonargaon, Bangladesh," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 35(3), pages 764-792.
    6. Victoria Shelus & Nobert Mumbere & Amos Masereka & Bonita Masika & Joackim Kiitha & Grace Nyangoma & Edgar M Mulogo & Clare Barrington & Emmanuel Baguma & Rabbison Muhindo & James E Herrington Jr. & M, 2022. "“Testing for malaria does not cure any pain” A qualitative study exploring low use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests at drug shops in rural Uganda," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(12), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Sarah Tougher & Kara Hanson & Catherine A. Goodman, 2021. "Does subsidizing the private for‐profit sector benefit the poor? Evidence from national antimalarial subsidies in Nigeria and Uganda," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(10), pages 2510-2530, September.
    8. Teresa Molina Millán & Karen Macours, 2017. "Attrition in randomized control trials: Using tracking information to correct bias," FEUNL Working Paper Series novaf:wp1702, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Economia.
    9. Carolina Lopez & Anja Sautmann & Simone Schaner, 2022. "Does Patient Demand Contribute to the Overuse of Prescription Drugs?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 225-260, January.
    10. Miguel Godinho de Matos & Pedro Ferreira, 2020. "The Effect of Binge-Watching on the Subscription of Video on Demand: Results from Randomized Experiments," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1337-1360, December.
    11. Lori Beaman & Dean Karlan & Bram Thuysbaert & Christopher Udry, 2014. "Self-Selection into Credit Markets: Evidence from Agriculture in Mali," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 14/884, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    12. Tanguy Bernard & Sylvie Lambert & Karen Macours & Margaux Vinez, 2019. "Adoption of Improved Seeds, Evidence from DRC," Working Papers halshs-02422695, HAL.
    13. Okeke, Edward N. & Adepiti, Clement A. & Ajenifuja, Kayode O., 2013. "What is the price of prevention? New evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 207-218.
    14. Brown, Joe & Hamoudi, Amar & Jeuland, Marc & Turrini, Gina, 2017. "Seeing, believing, and behaving: Heterogeneous effects of an information intervention on household water treatment," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 141-159.
    15. Dillon, Andrew & Friedman, Jed & Serneels, Pieter, 2014. "Health Information, Treatment, and Worker Productivity: Experimental Evidence from Malaria Testing and Treatment among Nigerian Sugarcane Cutters," IZA Discussion Papers 8074, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Shapiro, Jeremy, 2019. "The impact of recipient choice on aid effectiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 137-149.
    17. Angelucci, Manuela & Bennett, Daniel M, 2022. "Depression, Pharmacotherapy, and the Demand for a Novel Health Product," IZA Discussion Papers 15832, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    18. Alfredo Paloyo & Arndt Reichert, 2017. "Biting Back at Malaria: Assessing Health-service Providers' Compliance with Treatment Guidelines," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 591-626, August.
    19. Herrera-Almanza, Catalina & Rosales-Rueda, Maria F., 2020. "Reducing the Cost of Remoteness: Community-Based Health Interventions and Fertility Choices," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    20. Cátia Batista & Marcel Fafchamps & Pedro C Vicente, 2022. "Keep It Simple: A Field Experiment on Information Sharing among Strangers [Changing Saving and Investment Behavior: The Impact of Financial Literacy Training and Reminders on Micro-Businesses]," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 36(4), pages 857-888.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0286718. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.