Supply-side and demand-side factors influencing uptake of malaria testing services in the community: lessons for scale-up from a post-hoc analysis of a cluster randomised, community-based trial in western Kenya

Objectives: Maximising the impact of community-based programmes requires understanding how supply of, and demand for, the intervention interact at the point of delivery.

Design: Post-hoc analysis from a large-scale community health worker (CHW) study designed to increase the uptake of malaria diagnostic testing.

Setting: Respondents were identified during a household survey in western Kenya between July 2016 and April 2017.

Participants: Household members with fever in the last 4 weeks were interviewed at 12 and 18 months post-implementation. We collected monthly testing data from 244 participating CHWs and conducted semistructured interviews with a random sample of 70 CHWs.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was diagnostic testing before treatment for a recent fever. The secondary outcomes were receiving a test from a CHW and tests done per month by each CHW.

Results: 55% (n=948 of 1738) reported having a malaria diagnostic test for their recent illness, of which 38.4% were tested by a CHW. Being aware of a local CHW (adjusted OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.04) and belonging to the wealthiest households (vs least wealthy) were associated with higher testing (adjusted OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.06). Wealthier households were less likely to receive their test from a CHW compared with poorer households (adjusted OR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.62). Confidence in artemether-lumefantrine to cure malaria (adjusted OR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.54 to 4.92) and perceived accuracy of a malaria rapid diagnostic test (adjusted OR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.12 to 5.27) were positively associated with testing by a CHW. Specific CHW attributes were associated with performing a higher monthly number of tests including formal employment, serving more than 50 households (vs <50) and serving areas with a higher test positivity. On demand side, confidence of the respondent in a test performed by a CHW was strongly associated with seeking a test from a CHW.

Conclusion: Scale-up of community-based malaria testing is feasible and effective in increasing uptake among the poorest households. To maximise impact, it is important to recognise factors that may restrict delivery and demand for such services.

Trial registration number: NCT02461628; Post-results.