Table 2 Overview of case studies on malaria among displaced populations in Africa
From: Improving diagnostics and surveillance of malaria among displaced people in Africa
Case Study Location | Population | Intervention | Key Outcomes | Authors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sofala and Cabo Delgado, Mozambique | Displaced persons post-cyclone and violence | Surveillance activities, RDT administration | Identified a 4.5% malaria-positive rate among screened individuals; highlighted the need for combined diagnostic algorithms due to COVID-19 and malaria symptom overlap | Di Gennaro et al. 2022 |
Northern Zambia | Congolese refugee children | Surveillance data and hospital record analysis | Similar malaria prevalence in refugee settlements and high-burden areas; refugee children from transit centers had better outcomes than those from permanent settlements | Hauser et al. 2022 |
Eastern DRC, IDP camp | 100 Febrile Children Under 5Â years of age from the IDP camp | Active case detection of household contacts | Active case-finding was not efficient; symptom-based screening was suggested for identifying at-risk individuals | Hamze et al. 2016 |
Displacement camp, DRC | Children living in displacement camp | Cross-sectional surveys, RDTs | Higher prevalence of P. falciparum infection in camp children compared to nearby village; highlighted low bed net usage | Charchuk et al. 2016 |
General Hospitals in Ebonyi State, Nigeria | Patients with malaria symptoms | Comparison of diagnostics | Showed variability in diagnostic accuracy; recommended combined use of microscopy and RDT | Ugah et al. 2017 |
NorthWest, Central African Republic (CAR) | Community through CHWs | Malaria RDTs and ACT treatment | High positivity rate; effective treatment with ACT for positive cases | Ruckstuhl et al. 2017 |
Ardamata IDP camp, Sudan | Patients with suspected malaria | Nested PCR for malaria detection | High malaria prevalence; highlighted gender as a risk factor | Eshag et al. 2020 |
Non-endemic countries | Suspected malaria in travellers, migrants, refugees | Novel FRET-qPCR diagnostic | Achieved high accuracy in species identification; suggested for routine clinical use | Schneider et al. 2021 |
South Sudan | Refugees, returnees, internally displaced people | Implementation of WHO-recommended malaria control interventions per the National Malaria Strategic Plan | Despite challenges, and progress in implementing malaria control interventions; the need for enhanced coordination, infrastructure, and resource allocation highlighted | Pasquale et al., 2013 |
North Wollo zone, Ethiopia | Patients, pregnant women, elders, community and religious leaders, health professionals | Use of traditional medicines, medications from unaffected areas, home-to-home healthcare | The conflict led to a breakdown in the health system, affecting the provision and utilization of health services, including those for malaria. Coping strategies were developed in response | Arage et al., 2023 |
Eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa Cameroon, DRC, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda) | Community health workers, health center managers, parents of children receiving chemoprevention, national decision-makers | SMC and IPTi | SMC and IPTi are largely accepted but face challenges like children's absenteeism, parents' reluctance, access to water, and staff turnover. Identified drivers and barriers to acceptance | Audibert & Tchouatieu, 2021 |