Community health workers in clinical research at the example of a phase IIIb/ IV antimalarial drug trial conducted in five African countries.

Abstract

Global health, particularly in underserved settings can benefit immensely from well-trained community health workers (CHWs) supporting primary healthcare interventions. They can reduce morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases like malaria. Disease control programs can particularly benefit from a tight link between CHWs and communities and several studies have shown the benefit of the participation of non-facility-based CHWs in malaria control program activities for reducing malaria-related mortality in children. Because CHWs are often part of and trusted by served communities, they can also be an important resource to address challenges faced by their communities. Where post-marketing surveillance systems are underserved, they can relay important information about suspected safety signals and factors affecting therapeutic effectiveness in their communities. The CANTAM-Pyramax® trial was a phase IIIb/ IV cohort event monitoring study conducted at six centers in five African countries. To assess real-world effectiveness and safety of the anti-malarial pyronaridine-artesunate in 8560 malaria episodes, follow-up was not primarily conducted by medical staff but by specifically trained CHWs. This perspective paper discusses how the participation of a CHW workforce can be of benefit for effectiveness trials in limited-resource settings, using the example of the CANTAM-Pyramax trial.

• Authors: Mirjam Groger, Gaston Tona Lutete, Serge-Brice Assi, Jude D Bigoga, Nsengi Y Ntamabyaliro, Sarah Arbe-Barnes, Jangsik Shin, Ayola A Adegnika, Francine Ntoumi, Peter G Kremsner, Michael Ramharter, Stephan Duparc, Isabelle Borghini-Fuhrer, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
• Journal: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (Int J Infect Dis) Vol. 137 Pg. 114-117 (Dec 2023) ISSN: 1878-3511 [Electronic] Canada
• PMID: 37871675 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Clinical Trial, Phase IV, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antimalarials

Topics

• Child
• Humans
• Africa
• Antimalarials (therapeutic use)
• Community Health Workers
• Malaria (drug therapy, prevention & control, epidemiology)