Reactive Case Detection (RACD) and foci investigation strategies in malaria control and elimination: a review
- PDF / 1,182,350 Bytes
- 11 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 86 Downloads / 193 Views
(2020) 19:401 Perera et al. Malar J https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03478-0
Open Access
RESEARCH
Reactive Case Detection (RACD) and foci investigation strategies in malaria control and elimination: a review Ruwanthi Perera, Amandhi Caldera and A. Rajitha Wickremasinghe*
Abstract Background: Reactive case detection (RACD) and foci investigation are key strategies in malaria elimination and prevention of its re-establishment. They are a key part of surveillance that has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be considered as a core intervention and as one of the three pillars of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030. Methods: A search using the key words “Reactive Case Detection”, “RACD”, “RCD” and “Malaria” was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, Taylor and Francis online databases for studies published until 31st July 2019. The inclusion criteria for selection of articles for review included (1) how RACD is implemented in each country; (2) challenges faced in RACD implementation; (3) suggestions on how the effectiveness of RACD process can be improved. Results: 411 titles were identified, 41 full text articles were screened and 29 were found eligible for inclusion in the review. Published literature on RACD, and case and foci investigations has mostly assessed the process of the activity. Most studies have documented that the yield of positives in RACD has been highest in the index case’s household and the immediate neighbourhood of the index case. Microscopy and RDTs are the common tests used in RACD. The guidelines for case and foci investigation, and RACD and PACD, are not universally adopted and are country-specific. Some of the limitations and challenges identified include lack of proper guidelines, logistic issues and problems with public compliance. Conclusions: Although there is no documented evidence that RACD is useful in malaria elimination settings, most authors have opined that RACD is necessary for malaria elimination. Lack of knowledge in the target populations, a target radius and how to carry out the RACD process is a major challenge in the decision-making process. Keywords: Reactive case detection, Malaria elimination, 1-3-7 strategy, Malaria control, Foci investigation Background Renewed global interest in malaria elimination since the beginning of this Century has motivated countries to plan for and implement evidence-based strategies moving from malaria control to elimination. The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 of the World Health Organization (WHO) has made transforming *Correspondence: [email protected] Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, P. O. Box 6, Thalagolla Road, Ragama 11010, Sri Lanka
surveillance into a core intervention as one of its three pillars [1]. Surveillance is “the continuous and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of disease-specific data, and the use of that data in the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health practice” [2]. In malaria eliminati
Data Loading...
