Post-discharge malaria chemoprevention in children with severe anaemia in Benin, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda: Formative and implementation research for policy decision making and implementation (PDMC Saves Lives)

Young children in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk of severe anaemia, associated with high mortality. Children who have recently recovered from severe anaemia in malaria-endemic areas remain at high risk of mortality for about 3-6 months after hospital discharge. Three months of post-discharge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) has recently been shown to reduce hospital readmissions by 53% and post-discharge deaths by 77%. WHO now recommends PDMC in all highly malaria-endemic areas of Africa. However, the optimal strategies for how to deliver PDMC are not yet clear.

1. Formative research in two countries in the process of adopting PDMC (Malawi and Uganda) and two, not yet (Kenya and Benin), to identify key research questions for PDMC implementation.
2. Two implementation trials (Benin and Kenya, N=1,824) in recently discharged children following recovery from severe anaemia, co-designed with national stakeholders, will evaluate at least two PDMC delivery strategies involving community-health workers and automated SMS reminders.

The primary outcome will be adherence. Secondary outcomes include clinical and cost-effectiveness, and acceptability and feasibility.

Project details

Health Systems & Op. Research
Leadership & Governance

Jul 2023 — Dec 2026

$4.9M

Benin
Kenya
Malawi
Uganda