Intermittent preventive treatment for malaria and anaemia control in Tanzanian infants; the development and implementation of a public health strategy.
Minimizing the time between efficacy studies and public health action is important to maximize health gains. We report the rationale, development and implementation of a district-based strategy for the implementation of intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi) for malaria and anaemia control in Tanzania. From the outset, a research team worked with staff from all levels of the health system to develop a public-health strategy that could continue to function once the research team withdrew. The IPTi strategy was then implemented by routine health services to ensure that IPTi behaviour-change communication materials were available in health facilities, that health workers were trained to administer and to document doses of IPTi, that the necessary drugs were available in facilities and that systems were in place for stock management and supervision. The strategy was integrated into existing systems as far as possible and well accepted by health staff. Time-and-motion studies documented that IPTi implementation took a median of 12.4 min (range 1.6-28.9) per nurse per vaccination clinic. The collaborative approach between researchers and health staff effectively translated research findings into a strategy fit for public health implementation.
Manzi
Fatuma
F
Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. manzif@yahoo.com
Schellenberg
Joanna
J
Hamis
Yuna
Y
Mushi
Adiel K
AK
Shirima
Kizito
K
Mwita
Alex
A
Simba
Azma
A
Rusibamayila
Neema
N
Kitambi
Mary
M
Tanner
Marcel
M
Alonso
Pedro
P
Mshinda
Hassan
H
Schellenberg
David
D
D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013996:Time and Motion Studies
D000962:Antimalarials; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011739:Pyrimethamine