Understandings of Malaria Diagnosis and Implications for Rapid Diagnostic Test Use in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Malaria No More (MNM) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to ending malaria deaths through communications and prevention campaigns throughout malaria-endemic Africa. MNM is working on an initiative to introduce Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and is seeking to gain a better understanding of attitudes towards fever and malaria diagnosis in Africa, in order to produce targeted behavior-change communications. To explore this issue, the Capstone team conducted focus groups with community members and interviewed healthcare workers in Cameroon where RDTs are being introduced. Preliminary analysis suggests there are information gaps about malaria diagnoses and RDTs for both the public and healthcare workers. These initial findings have been used to shape content for a series of forthcoming public service announcements in Cameroon. The final report included an extensive literature review, detailed qualitative analysis of data collected in Cameroon, and recommendations for future communications strategies about RDTs and malaria.