Malaria epidemiology among children and pregnant women, Western Equatoria State, South Sudan

Objectives

This operational research study aims at improving the quality of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment in South Sudan by narrowing current gaps in malaria epidemiology knowledge and diagnostic capacity through large-scale molecular investigations and capacity building at three peripheral health centers in Western Equatoria State, located in Mundri East, Mundri West and Mvolo Counties.

The specific objectives of the study are:

1. Support the set-up of laboratories for malaria diagnosis at three peripheral health centres in Western Equatoria State
2. Support the training in malaria diagnosis of laboratory staff at three peripheral health centres in Western Equatoria State
3. Measure the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infection among children under five years old and pregnant women at three peripheral health centres in Western Equatoria State using different diagnostic methods
4. Compare the results of RDT, microscopy and molecular methods, in order to monitor and improve the quality of malaria diagnosis at peripheral health centres
5. Assess whether other species than P. falciparum (namely P. vivax, which would be undetected by RDT diagnosis) are cause of infection and disease
6. Measure the frequency of P. falciparum isolates lacking expression of Histidine-Rich Protein (HRP) that can affect the sensitivity of RDT
7. Measure the frequency of drug resistance markers in P. falciparum that can affect the efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women with SP and of treatment of clinical malaria cases with ACT
8. Disseminate the generated data to the NMCP and other relevant stakeholders