Adherence to malaria rapid diagnostic test result among healthcare workers in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Aliyu Mamman Na’uzo, Dahiru Tukur, Mu’awiyyah Babale Sufiyan, Adebowale Ayo Stephen, IkeOluwapo Ajayi, Eniola Bamgboye, Abdulrazaq Abdullahi Gobir, Chukwuma David Umeokonkwo, Zainab Abdullahi, Olufemi Ajumobi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020
• Subjects: Malaria; Guideline adherence; Diagnostic test; Routine; Healthcare workers; Nigeria; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-3094-2; https://doaj.org/article/a2c711741aba490f9ffcc93042af13a9

Abstract Background Presumptive diagnosis and prescription of anti-malarial medicines to malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-negative patients is a common practice among health care workers (HCWs) in Nigeria. There is paucity of data on HCWs adherence to RDT result in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria. The study was conducted to determine HCWs adherence to malaria test result and the influencing factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 262 HCWs selected by multistage sampling technique from primary and secondary health facilities in Sokoto metropolis. Data on demographic characteristics, adherence to RDT result and its influencing factors were collected from the HCWs. Adherence was categorized into good if adherence score is ≥ 4 and poor if otherwise. Chi-squared test was used to test association between adherence to test results and patients’ fever presentation, expectation to be given anti-malarials, prior HCWs’ case management training, among others. Independent predictors of adherence to RDT results were ascertained. Results Respondents’ mean age was 33.5 ± 7.9 years, 190 (72.5%) worked in Primary Health Care facilities, 112 (42.8%) were Community Health Workers, 178 (67.9%) had National Diploma Certificate. The median years of practice was 5.0 (IQR: 3–10) years, while 118 (45.0%) had at most 4 years of practice. Overall, 211 (80.5%) had good adherence to RDT results. About 108 (89.3%) of HCWs who had training on malaria case management and 35 (89.7%) certificate holders had good adherence to RDT results. Predictors of adherence to test results were presence of fever in the patient [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–5.43], patients’ expectation to be given anti-malarial medicines by the HCW (aOR: 3.06, 95% CI 1.42–6.58) and having been trained on malaria case management (aOR: 2.63; 95% CI 1.26–5.44). Conclusion High level of adherence to RDT results among HCWs in Sokoto metropolis could be attributed to prior malaria case management training and HCWs’ confidence ...