HRH Global Resource Center - Infectious Diseases

Strengthening Tactical Planning and Operational Frameworks for Vector Control: The Roadmap for Malaria Elimination in Namibia

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 12:26:22 +0000

Namibia has made tremendous gains in malaria control and the epidemiological trend of the disease has changed significantly over the past years. In 2010, the country reoriented from the objective of reducing disease mor bidity and mortality to the goal of achieving malaria elimination by 2020. This manuscript outlines the processes undertaken in strengthening tactical planning and operational frameworks for vector control to facilitate expeditious malaria elimination in Namibia. [from abstract]

The Role of Institutions on the Effectiveness of Malaria Treatment in the Ghanaian Health Sector

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:25:38 +0000

The objective of this study is to find the effect of institutional factors on the quality of care. The institutional factors examined were mainly the extent of decentralization between government and health facilities, as well as between health workers and facility administration, the hiring procedure, and job satisfaction. [from abstract]

Utilization of Community Health Workers for Malaria Treatment: Results from a Three-Year Panel Study in the Districts of Kaya and Zorgho, Burkina Faso

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:51:51 +0000

Malaria is holo-endemic in Burkina Faso and causes approximately 40,000 deaths every year. In 2010, health authorities scaled up community case management of malaria with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Previous trials and pilot project evaluations have shown that this strategy may be feasible, acceptable, and effective under controlled implementation conditions. However, little is known about its effectiveness or feasibility/acceptability under real-world conditions of implementation at national scale. [from abstract]

Do Community Health Workers Perceive Mechanisms Associated with the Success of Community Case Management of Malaria? A Qualitative Study From Burkina Faso

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 19:39:54 +0000

The use of community health workers to administer prompt treatments is gaining popularity in most sub-Saharan African countries. Their performance is a key challenge because it varies considerably, depending on the context, while being closely associated with the effectiveness of case management strategies. What determines community health workers’ performance is still under debate. Based on a realist perspective, a systematic review recently hypothesized that several mechanisms are associated with good performance and successful community interventions.

Public Health in the Age of Ebola in West Africa

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 23:37:59 +0000

The world is witnessing the unprecedented unfolding of the West African Ebola epidemic. The epidemic could have major ramifications for global public health in ways that no other modern infectious disease has, perhaps including AIDS, and can be viewed as a “Black Swan” event. What we call here a Black Swan (and capitalize it) is an event with the following three attributes. First, it is an outlier, as it lies outside the realm of regular expecta- tions, because nothing in the past can convincingly point to its possibility.

The Quality of Tuberculosis Services in Health Care Centres in a Rural District in Uganda: The Providers’ and Clients’ Perspective

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:41:56 +0000

Quality of care plays an important role in the status of tuberculosis (TB) control, by influencing timely diagnosis, treatment adherence,and treatment completion. In this study,we aimed at establishing the quality of TB service care in Kamuli district health care centres using Donabedian structure, process, and outcomes model of health care. One of the worst performance indicators was low percentage of cure.

“Nothing For Us Without Us”: Establishing a Tuberculosis-Free Africa Through Community Action

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:40:42 +0000

African community activists have long recognized the need to strengthen the voices of African advocates and civil
society working to improve health and wellbeing across the continent. With funding from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), PATH helped former tuberculosis (TB) patients from five African countries to
build on the previous efforts of their colleagues to create a strong core organization—the Africa Coalition on
Tuberculosis (ACT!)—and then expand ACT!

Balancing Authority, Deference and Trust Across the Public–Private Divide in Health Care: Tuberculosis Health Visitors in Western Maharashtra, India

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 14:04:49 +0000

While concepts such as ‘partnership’ are central to the terminology of private–public mix (PPM), little attention has been paid to how social relations are negotiated among the diverse actors responsible for implementing these inter-sectoral arrangements. India’s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has used intermediary agents to facilitate the involvement of private providers in the expansion of Directly Observed Therapy, Short-Course (DOTS).

Health Seeking Behavior, Practices of TB and Access to Health Care Among TB Patients in Machakos County, Kenya. A Cross-Sectional Study

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:37:18 +0000

The main objective of this study was to examine the health seeking behavior of TB patients, practices of TB and access to health care. A cross- sectional survey of TB patients was done in Athi River, Machakos level 5 and Mutituni TB treatment health facilities in Machakos County. [from abstract]

Advocating for Malaria Elimination - Learning from the Successes of Other Infectious Disease Elimination Programmes

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 19:42:08 +0000

The global malaria community needs to work together, to ensure that the early steps towards the end goal of malaria elimination are taken.