Treatment uptake by individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum in rural Gambia, West Africa

Lorenz Von Seidlein, Sian Clarke, Neal Alexander, Fandingding Manneh, Tom Doherty, Margaret Pinder, Gijs Walraven, Brian Greenwood

    Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debate

    Abstract

    Objective:
    To find out what proportion of Plasmodium falciparum infections are treated in rural Gambia.

    Methods:

    Subjects from four villages in the Gambia were followed over nine months through visits to village health workers. Monthly cross-sectional malaria surveys measured the prevalence of P. falciparum infection. Linked databases were searched for treatment requests. Treated cases were individuals with parasitaemia who requested treatment during narrow or extended periods (14 or 28 days, respectively) before or after a positive blood film was obtained.

    Findings:

    Parasite prevalence peaked in November 1998, when 399/653 (61%) individuals had parasitaemia. Parasite prevalence was highest throughout the study in children aged 5–10 years. Although access to treatment was better than in most of sub-Saharan Africa, only 20% of infected individuals sought medical treatment up to 14 days before or after a positive blood film. Within two months of a positive blood film, 199/726 (27%) individuals with parasitaemia requested treatment. Despite easy access to health care, less than half (42%) of those with parasite densities consistent with malaria attacks (>5000/ml) requested treatment. High parasite density and
    infection during October–November were associated with more frequent treatment requests. Self-treatment was infrequent in study villages: in 3/120 (2.5%) households antimalarial drugs had been used in the preceding malaria season.

    Conclusion:

    Many P. falciparum infections may be untreated because of their subclinical nature. Intermittent presumptive treatment may reduce morbidity and mortality. It is likely that not all untreated infections were asymptomatic. Qualitative research should explore barriers to treatment uptake, to allow educational interventions to be planned.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)790-796
    Number of pages7
    JournalBulletin of the World Health Organization
    Volume80
    Issue number10
    Publication statusPublished - 2002

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Treatment uptake by individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum in rural Gambia, West Africa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this