Trends of adherence to malaria testing and treatment guidelines by Community Health Volunteers in Kakamega county, Kenya

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the trends in adherence to testing and treatment guidelines for Community Case  Management of malaria (CCMm) by community health volunteers in Kakamega County.

Design: This was a descriptive retrospective study design using data collected on CCMm as reported on the Kenya health information  system. Trends of community case management of malaria were assessed between January 2019 and December 2022.

Setting: Community units implementing CCMm in Kakamega County, Kenya

Outcome Measures: Adherence to community case  management of malaria guidelines by community units implementing community case management of malaria.

Results: Kakamega  County has seen a rise in malaria cases managed at the community level, from 63,686 in 2018 to 133,614 in 2022. The annual testing  ranged from 95% in 2018 to 18% in 2020, while treatment rates ranged from 104% to 97.5%. The mean testing rate was 57%, and  treatment rates remained consistent throughout the months, except for over-treatment (104%) in December 2018. Testing rates vary  across years and sub-counties with no significant variations in treatment rates. There are 31.5% community units implementing CCMm as  at December 2022. The county has a community health volunteer’s turnover of 7% between 2017 and 2022.

Conclusion: There has  been an increase in the number of malaria cases managed in the community in Kakamega County. There are variations in testing rates  across the years and between sub-counties. There are no significant variations in the treatment rates.