Abstract
By 2004, most malaria endemic countries had adopted artemisinin based combination therapies (ACTs) as first-line malaria treatment
WHO recommends confirmation of infection prior to treatment to reduce unnecessary treatment and delay development of resistance
Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (RDTs) are alternative to current gold standard of microscopy
- Do not require specialised skills
- Suitable for resource-limited settings
Despite free or highly subsidised public sector provision, access to diagnosis and treatment remains poor:
- Many seek treatment from private sector
- Confirmation of infection not common in private retail sector, outside of private health facilities
