Diagnosis and treatment of malaria by health care providers: findings from a post conflict district in Sri Lanka.
Lima J., Abeyasinghe RR., Fitzpatrick R., Fernando SD.
This study determines whether 72 health care providers in a previously conflict-affected district in Sri Lanka adhere to the recommendations of the Anti Malaria Campaign with regard to diagnosis, prescribing antimalarials and reporting of a positive case. All patients suspected of clinically having malaria are being referred for laboratory confirmation, indicating that presumptive treatment is not practiced. The knowledge amongst health care providers regarding accurate management and reporting of a malaria positive case needs to be improved.