Publications by authors named "Shannen van Duijn"

Article Synopsis
  • International health financing programs in low- and middle-income countries often operate separately from local funding, which can lead to inefficiencies in healthcare delivery and poor health outcomes.
  • The ConnDx initiative, implemented in private health facilities in Kisumu, Kenya, utilized digital diagnostics to objectively identify and monitor health funds for malaria diagnosis among patients with fever, detecting 2,199 cases out of 11,689.
  • ConnDx's data-driven approach not only revealed malaria hotspots and informed patient behavior, but it also suggested a potential 25% reduction in costs while improving care quality, aiding local health policymakers in effectively targeting interventions for better health coverage.
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Introduction: In Africa almost half of healthcare services are delivered through private sector providers. These are often underused in national public health responses. To support and accelerate the public sector's COVID-19 response, we facilitated recruitment of additional private sector capacity by initiating a public-private partnership (PPP) in Kisumu County, Kenya.

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In low-and middle-income countries, achieving universal health coverage remains challenging due to insufficient, temporary and fragmented funding as well as limited accessibility to quality healthcare. Leveraging a mobile health platform can be a powerful tool to address these problems. This paper demonstrates how analysing data collected from a mobile health platform helps optimize healthcare provider networks, monitor patient flows and assess the quality and equitability of access to care.

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Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in resource-poor settings remains a considerable challenge. Gold standard nucleic acid tests are expensive and depend on availability of expensive equipment and highly trained laboratory staff. More affordable and easier rapid antigen tests are an attractive alternative.

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Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, the material and human capacity to diagnose patients reporting with fever to healthcare providers is largely insufficient. Febrile patients are typically treated presumptively with antimalarials and/or antibiotics. Such over-prescription can lead to drug resistance and involves unnecessary costs to the health system.

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