Background: If people are not diagnosed and treated promptly for malaria, they may develop severe complications and death. Globally, an estimated 3.3 billion people are at risk of being infected with malaria and 1.2 billion are at high risk. The World Health Organization recommends using malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) or microscopy followed by prescribing antimalarial only to patients who have a positive test result. In Rwanda, malaria RDT was introduced in 2008 to be used by community health workers (CHWs) before offering treatment. This study assessed malaria test preference and associated factors among community members in Rubavu district, Rwanda.
Background: Malaria remains one of the major public health problems in Rwanda. The country introduced artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) at community level using community health workers (CHWs) for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in 2008. Use of ACT with reliance on presumptive diagnosis may lead to excessive use, increased costs and rise of drug resistance. Thus to overcome these challenges, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) was introduced to be done by CHWs. This study assessed health care workers experience regarding RDT and their feelings on acceptability of RDTs by community members.
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