Introduction: The 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was disruptive for the general health services in the affected countries. This study assessed the impact of the outbreak on the reported number and management of malaria in children under-five in rural Guinea.
Materials And Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in nineteen health centres in two rural, malaria-endemic health districts, one at the epicentre of the outbreak (Guéckédou) and one (Koubia) spared by Ebola. Routine surveillance data at health facility level were compared over similar periods of high malaria transmission in both districts before, during and after the outbreak.
Results: There were significant declines in the number of visits during the Ebola outbreak (3,700) in Guéckédou compared to before (4,616) and after it (4,195), while this trend remained more stable within the three periods for Koubia. Differences were nonetheless significant in both districts (p<0.001). In 2014, during the peak of the outbreak, the overall number of malaria cases treated exceeded the number of confirmed malaria cases in Guéckédou. There were decreases in antimalarial treatment provision in August and November 2014. In contrast, during 2015 and 2016, the proportion of malaria positive cases and those treated were closely aligned. During the peak of the Ebola outbreak, there was a significant decrease in oral antimalarial drug administration, which corresponded to an increase in injectable antimalarial treatments. Stock-outs in rapid diagnostic tests were evident and prolonged in Guéckédou during the outbreak, while more limited in Koubia.
Conclusion: The Ebola outbreak of 2014-15 in Guinea had a significant impact on the admission and management of malaria in children under-five. This study identifies potential challenges in the delivery of care for those at highest risk for malaria mortality during an Ebola outbreak and the need to improve preparedness strategies pre-Ebola and health systems recovery post-Ebola.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5830300 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0192798 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Delays in health care seeking for diarrheal disease and associated factors among caregivers of under five children in health centers of northwest Ethiopia: a mixed-method study.
BMC Public Health
January 2025
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box, 21, Arba Minch City, Ethiopia.
Background: Approximately 70% of child deaths due to diarrhea are caused by a lack of timely healthcare. However, there was little evidence of factors associated with delays in seeking health care for patients with diarrheal diseases in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate delays in seeking healthcare for children with diarrhea and identify associated factors among caregivers in health centers of Northwest Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBetween October 2021 and February 2022, there was an outbreak of Yellow fever that spread within several districts in the northern part of Ghana. Febrile illnesses such as Yellow fever are often misdiagnosed as malaria and vice versa, which delays appropriate management and treatment. Hence, the true burden of Yellow fever and malaria are mostly underestimated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommunity health system capacities and capabilities within an evolving community health policy framework: mixed methods study of stakeholders in central Uganda.
BMJ Open
January 2025
Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
Objectives: Empowering communities through identifying and unlocking community capacities and capabilities is vital for improving community health systems. This study assessed the community health system's status quo and readiness for implementing a government-led, partner-supported community health worker project.
Design: A mixed methods cross-sectional study.
Wealth-related inequality in women healthcare-seeking behaviour for under-five children illness in Afghanistan: evidence from 2022 Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Save the Children International, Qalai Fatullah, PD 10, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Background: This study examined the wealth-related inequality in women healthcare seeking behaviour for under-five children illness in Afghanistan and its determinants.
Methods: Data of 32409 mothers/caregivers of children under-five were extracted from Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in 2022. Wealth-related inequalities in women healthcare seeking behaviour for under-five children illness was investigated using Erreygers and Wagstaff concentration indices and curve.
Prevalence and contributors to anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in Kyangwali Refugee settlement, Western Uganda: a cross-sectional study.
BMC Pediatr
January 2025
Department of Research, School of Graduate studies, Research and Innovations, Clarke International University, Kampala, P.O. Box 7782, Uganda.
Background: Anaemia is a major cause of morbidity among children under five years in Uganda. However, its magnitude among refugee populations is marginally documented. In this study, the prevalence and contributors to anaemia among children 6 to 59 months in Kyangwali refugee settlement in Western Uganda was determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!