Jacklin F. Mosha

University

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi (KCMC).

PhD Title

Contact Tracing and Neighbourhood Drug Administration.

Abstract

Malaria transmission in endemic countries is heterogeneous even within areas that are in close proximity to each other. Frequent treatments of those at risk of malaria may lead to reduced transmission by reducing the biomass of sexual stages of malaria largely through prophylaxis. Many infectious diseases are said to be overdispersed with 20% of the population being responsible for 80% of the disease and is likely that the reservoir of malaria is also overdispersed. Thus attacking the foci or hotspots of malaria transmission may have rapid and marked reduction in transmission. If this is the case then treating household contacts and neighbors of clinical cases may reduce malaria transmission.

Methodology:

The proposed study is a cluster randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups.

Intervention:

Patients diagnosed as malaria cases by a positive RDT attending the study health facilities will be treated with an ACT. They will be followed up at home and all consenting household members and neighbors living within 50 meters’ radius of the index case will be treated with a long acting ACT.

Control:

Patients diagnosed as malaria cases by a positive RDT attending the control study health facilities will be treated with an ACT (standard care).