Prevalence of Malaria Positive Rapid Diagnostic Test and Antimalarial Treatment in Patients with Fevers in the Accident and Emergency Unit of Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Western Region, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is a simpler, easy to read malaria diagnostic test. It was introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) to supplement the use of microscopy and can be used alone in areas where microscopy is unavailable. Its introduction was necessary to maintain the WHO test-based treatment protocol for malaria, as dependence of microscopy which is the gold standard is not possible in many areas in Sub-Saharan Africa which lack the wherewithal to run efficient laboratory services. WHO strongly recommends that only patients with parasitological confirmation of malaria should be treated with antimalarial drugs. In this study, the prevalence of malaria positive RDT and antimalarial treatment was evaluated in patients presenting with fevers at the outpatient section of the accident and emergency unit of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Ghana. Methodology: This was a retrospective study carried out in the outpatient section of the accident emergency unit of Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital. The outpatient register was reviewed from October 2014 to March 2015, for patients who came with fever. Data on demographics, malaria RDT status and antimalarial treatment were collected and analyzed. Result: A total of 607 patients with fever had their RDT performed. Of these, 131 (21.58%) were positive for malaria while 467 (78.42%) were negative. Out of the 131 tested positive, 55 represented patients above 12 years and 76 represent children

Prevalence, trends and associated factors of malaria in the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital, Ghana

“…In this study, the prevalence of malaria was found to be 20.9%. This is consistent with a study conducted in Ghana on the prevalence of malaria-positive rapid diagnostic tests and antimalarial treatment which reported a 21.58% prevalence rate [ 8 ]. A similar study by Deku and colleagues in their retrospective study on malaria in the Western North region of Ghana reported, a slightly higher prevalence rate of 26.5% was reported [ 9 ].…”

Prevalence, trend and associated factors of malaria in the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital

“…In this study, the prevalence of malaria was found to be 20.9%. This is consistent with a study conducted in Ghana on the prevalence of malaria-positive rapid diagnostic tests and antimalarial treatment which reported a 21.58% prevalence rate [12]. A similar study by Deku and colleagues in their retrospective study on malaria in the Western North region of Ghana reported, a slightly higher prevalence rate of 26.5% was reported [13].…”

Six years surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among febrile patients reporting in Centre de Santé d’Okala, North West Gabon

“…This concept is in line with the observations of this study where highest prevalence was recorded in children ≤ 10 years old than with the other age intervals. This supports the fact that children are still at risk of malaria despite the decreasing malaria burden in the zone [18,21,22]. Studies conducted elsewhere reported associations between malaria infection and the use of insecticide treated bed nets.…”