Compliance with the WHO strategy of test, treat and track for malaria control at Bosomtwi District in Ghana

BACKGROUND: We reviewed malaria morbidity data to assess compliance to malaria T3 strategy in Bosomtwi District, Ashanti Region, Ghana. DESIGN: The study was descriptive secondary data analysis SETTING: Bosomtwi District DATA SOURCE: District Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS2) MAIN OUTCOME: Proportion of recorded cases tested, proportion of tested cases treated and proportion of cases tracked RESULTS: Data for suspected and tested malaria cases was complete for only 3 years (2014–2016). Malaria testing reduced from 84.4% in 2015 to 76.8% in 2016 (national average 77.3%; regional average 70%). The proportion of untested but treated malaria cases declined from 46.3% in 2015 to 4.9% in 2016. Proportion of confirmed malaria cases put on antimalarial drugs was highest in 2016 at 63.9%. Pramso sub-district although home to largest facility in the district, under prescribed antimalarial drugs. Reports generated on malaria showed information on only confirmed suspected cases, under five, and above five malaria mortalities. The district did not determine their malaria thresholds. CONCLUSION: The malaria-testing rate in the Bosomtwi District is higher than the regional average and close to the national average. About a third of confirmed malaria cases missed getting appropriate antimalarial drugs. Limited analysis on malaria data reduced the information required to inform policy. FUNDING: Author GO was fully sponsored by President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)-CDC CoAg 6NU2GGH001876