TY - JOUR
T1 - Defining the burden of febrile illness in rural South and Southeast Asia: An open letter to announce the launch of the Rural Febrile Illness project
AU - Chandna, Arjun
AU - Lubell, Yoel
AU - Shwe Nwe Htun, Nan
AU - Peto, Thomas J.
AU - Liverani, Marco
AU - Brummaier, Tobias
AU - Phommasone, Koukeo
AU - Ibna Zaman, Sazid
AU - Sandar Zaw, Aye
AU - Batty, Elizabeth
AU - Waithira, Naomi
AU - Richard-Greenblatt, Melissa
AU - Blacksell, Stuart D.
AU - Bodhidatta, Ladaporn
AU - Callery, James J.
AU - Fagnark, Watcharintorn
AU - Islam, Shayla
AU - Lertcharoenchoke, Sanchai
AU - Mukaka, Mavuto
AU - Pongvongsa, Tiengkham
AU - Schilling, William H. K.
AU - Thaipadungpanit, Janjira
AU - Tripura, Rupam
AU - Dondorp, Arjen M.
AU - Mayxay, Mayfong
AU - White, Nicholas J.
AU - Nosten, Francois
AU - Smithuis, Frank
AU - Ashley, Elizabeth A.
AU - Maude, Richard J.
AU - Day, Nicholas P. J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Chandna A et al.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - In rural areas of South and Southeast Asia malaria is declining but febrile illnesses still account for substantial morbidity and mortality. Village health workers (VHWs) are often the first point of contact with the formal health system, and for patients with febrile illnesses they can provide early diagnosis and treatment of malaria. However, for the majority of febrile patients, VHWs lack the training, support and resources to provide further care. Consequently, treatable bacterial illnesses are missed, antibiotics are overused and poorly targeted, and patient attendance wanes along with declining malaria. This Open Letter announces the start of a new initiative, the Rural Febrile Illness (RFI) project, the first in a series of projects to be implemented as part of the South and Southeast Asian Community-based Trials Network (SEACTN) research programme. This multi-country, multi-site project will begin in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar and will define the epidemiological baseline of febrile illness in five remote and underserved areas of Asia where malaria endemicity is declining and access to health services is limited. The RFI project aims to determine the incidence, causes and outcomes of febrile illness; understand the opportunities, barriers and appetite for adjustment of the role of VHWs to include management of non-malarial febrile illnesses; and establish a network of community healthcare providers and facilities capable of implementing interventions designed to triage, diagnose and treat patients presenting with febrile illnesses within these communities in the future.
AB - In rural areas of South and Southeast Asia malaria is declining but febrile illnesses still account for substantial morbidity and mortality. Village health workers (VHWs) are often the first point of contact with the formal health system, and for patients with febrile illnesses they can provide early diagnosis and treatment of malaria. However, for the majority of febrile patients, VHWs lack the training, support and resources to provide further care. Consequently, treatable bacterial illnesses are missed, antibiotics are overused and poorly targeted, and patient attendance wanes along with declining malaria. This Open Letter announces the start of a new initiative, the Rural Febrile Illness (RFI) project, the first in a series of projects to be implemented as part of the South and Southeast Asian Community-based Trials Network (SEACTN) research programme. This multi-country, multi-site project will begin in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar and will define the epidemiological baseline of febrile illness in five remote and underserved areas of Asia where malaria endemicity is declining and access to health services is limited. The RFI project aims to determine the incidence, causes and outcomes of febrile illness; understand the opportunities, barriers and appetite for adjustment of the role of VHWs to include management of non-malarial febrile illnesses; and establish a network of community healthcare providers and facilities capable of implementing interventions designed to triage, diagnose and treat patients presenting with febrile illnesses within these communities in the future.
KW - Community Health Workers
KW - Etiology
KW - Fever
KW - Primary Health Care
KW - Rural Health
KW - Southeastern Asia
KW - Telemedicine
KW - Village Health Workers
KW - Western Asia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104576008&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16393.1
DO - https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16393.1
M3 - Article
C2 - 34017924
SN - 2398-502X
VL - 6
JO - Wellcome open research
JF - Wellcome open research
M1 - 64
ER -