Tailoring malaria control interventions to suit local context: codesign of perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) programmes through the Plus Project.
The Plus Project's codesign approach led to the development of tailored malaria chemoprevention strategies, but specific effectiveness measures were not reported.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the dnsp-11 (dopamine neuron stimulating peptide-11) corpusSummary and findings
This paper discusses the Plus Project's approach to designing country-specific models for perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) through codesign workshops. The workshops involved stakeholders from various health programs in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mozambique. The outcome was the development of four distinct PMC strategies tailored to each country's context.
Abstract
With global malaria cases on the rise, the WHO has placed increased emphasis on National Malaria Programmes to tailor interventions to country and programmatic needs. This paper presents the Plus Project's experience of applying a codesign approach to design country-specific models of perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC), a chemoprevention intervention aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality due to malaria and anaemia in children. Codesign workshops were held in each of the project's focus countries (Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Mozambique) with the primary objective of designing the country-specific PMC model. The three-and-a-half-day workshops were adapted to each country's context and included stakeholders from national and subnational malaria, immunisation and child health programmes, as well as national and international development partners and research institutions. The meetings were iterative and collaborative, harnessing a variety of participatory methods including journey mapping and surveys to reach group consensus on the PMC models best suited to each country's specific context. The Plus Project's codesign approach resulted in four different PMC strategies, with a range from four to eight contact points and different codelivery interventions, each taking advantage of country-specific health system delivery platforms, operational logistics and political contexts. This collaborative, codesign process also helped gather additional programmatic insights to aid PMC implementation while providing an opportunity to increase stakeholder buy-in. With an emphasis on collaborative decision-making, the learnings collected through these workshops can be applied to a variety of programmatic applications, extending beyond malaria.
Background
This paper addresses the need for tailored malaria control interventions as global malaria cases rise. Previous approaches have often applied generic strategies without considering local contexts. The Plus Project aims to fill this gap by utilizing a codesign methodology to develop country-specific models for perennial malaria chemoprevention.
Methods
The study utilized a codesign approach through workshops held in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mozambique. Stakeholders from national and subnational malaria, immunization, and child health programs participated. The workshops lasted three and a half days and employed various participatory methods, including journey mapping and surveys.
Results
The codesign process resulted in the development of four distinct PMC strategies. Each strategy featured a range of four to eight contact points and was adapted to the specific health system delivery platforms of each country. No specific quantitative outcomes or measures of effectiveness were reported.
Interpretation
The findings suggest a collaborative approach to intervention design may enhance stakeholder engagement and programmatic insights. However, without quantitative measures of effectiveness, it is difficult to assess the clinical significance of the developed strategies. The lack of specific outcomes limits the ability to draw broader conclusions about the efficacy of these tailored interventions.
Key findings
- Four different PMC strategies developed.
- Range of four to eight contact points for each strategy.
- Strategies utilized country-specific health system delivery platforms.
Limitations
- No quantitative outcomes reported.
- Focus on qualitative insights without effectiveness measures.
- Limited to specific countries, which may not generalize.