TITLE:
Knowledge and Perception of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test among Medical Doctors in a South Eastern Nigeria Tertiary Hospital
AUTHORS:
Edmund O. Ndibuagu, Ogechukwu F. Amadi, Ejiofor T. Ugwu
KEYWORDS:
Malaria, Test, Doctors, Knowledge, Perception
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.5 No.10,
October
23,
2017
ABSTRACT: Malaria commonly causes fever in tropical Africa. In 2010, World Health Organization recommended parasitological diagnosis of malaria before treatment. Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) aims at making malaria diagnosis more accessible. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, and perception of malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT), among doctors in a tertiary health facility. A descriptive, cross sectional study, conducted in October 2016, in a state University Teaching hospital, Enugu state, Nigeria. 86 doctors in the General Outpatient, Internal Medicine, and Paediatrics departments participated. 90.7% of respondents knew parasitological examination of blood is the certain method of making malaria diagnosis, 89.5% knew microscopy and RDT are methods for parasitological diagnosis, 91.9% knew mRDT is quick blood test for malaria, 54.7% knew mRDT is usually specific for one or more species of malaria, 46.5% knew mRDT detects circulating malaria parasite antigen, 29.1% knew mRDT is read 15 to 20 minutes after the test, 70.9% knew mRDT is not superior to microscopy, 79.1% knew mRDT is not 100% specific, 80.2% knew mRDT ought not be done always by Laboratory Scientists, and 66.3% knew more than one type of mRDT kit is available. On perception, 64.0% thought it was important to confirm diagnosis before commencing treatment, 90.7% perceived mRDT as being very useful, 96.5% did not perceive mRDT as endangering patients, 70.9% opinioned that presumptive diagnosis of malaria is not a better way of making diagnosis, 76.7% did not believe malaria diagnosis is always clear on listening to the patient, 90.7% did not perceive mRDT as being hazardous, 83.7% believe using mRDT can reduce the quantity of anti-malaria drugs consumed, and 94.2% opinioned that mRDT should be encouraged and promoted. Training and re-training of health workers shall greatly enhance mRDT use in implementing the WHO T3 Initiative, and ultimately eliminating malaria.