The ACTwatch Uganda project launched in 2008 monitors availability, price and volumes of antimalarials and diagnostics in the public and private sector to improve coverage of appropriate case management for fever or malaria. in 2015, Program for Accessible Health Communication and Education (PACE) contracted Socio-Economic Data Center Ltd (SEDC) to undertake the sixth round of ACTwatch Outlet Surveys in Uganda to generate data to inform and monitor national and global policy, strategy, and funding decisions for improving malaria case management
1) To determine availability, pricing and the relative market share of all antimalarial classes in Uganda.
2) To determine the availability and pricing of malaria blood testing including malaria microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) in Uganda.
3) To examine private sector providers’ knowledge and practices as well as the quality of care for malaria case management in Uganda.
• What is the availability of all antimalarial classes in all public and private outlets?
• What is the public and private sector availability of malaria blood testing, including malaria microscopy and Rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs)
• What is the price of antimalarials on the market?
• What is the price of malaria blood testing?
• What is the relative market share for all antimalarial classes by outlet type?
• What is the private sector malaria case management knowledge and practices e.g. knowledge of the first line of treatment and regimen?
• What is the quality of care for malaria case management in the private sector?
The study was conducted countrywide covering all the major regions and covering 48 sub-counties. A cross-sectional survey design using quantitative methods was adopted in the execution of the Outlet Survey. The Outlet Survey targeted all facilities and persons with a potential to stock or sell antimalarials and provide malaria blood testing services in the selected study areas. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire with audit questions on price, volume, brand and generic names, strength, dosage form etc. This was supplemented by consultation observation of the patient-health worker interactions and exit interviews with patients/caretakers of patients seeking fever treatment.
