Table 2 Characteristics of the CMDs

35: 18 males and 17 females

28: 18 females and 10 males

92: 60 females and 32 males

8: 2 males and 6 females

36: 30 females and 6 males

Selection criteria: ability to read and write; keep simple records; live in the community; trusted and willingness to volunteer

Selection criteria:

Be stable; previous volunteer experience; considered responsible and reliable; have b asic education

Selection criteria:

Member of Idir at least for last one year; willing to work voluntarily; available for at least 2 years; available most of the time; acceptable by the community

Selection criteria: Employees of the Ministry of Health.

CMDs have secondary level education.

Not resident in the community

Selection criteria:

Resident; availability; ability to read and write French; acceptable to local people; accept to work for the community; and general interest of the community

Main occupation:

Unemployed: 25%

Petty trader: 25%

Teacher/Social worker: 12.5%

Artisan: 15%

Local leaders: 10%

Main occupation:

Drug shop owners: 35.7%

Mason: 7.14%

Petty traders 35.7%

Farmers: 17.85%

Retired nurse: 3.57%

Main occupation:

Unemployed: 70% (housewife)

Students: 12%

Petty traders: 11%

Daily labourers: 5%

Retired: 2%

Main occupation:

Full time employment as Ministry of Health CMDs

Main occupation:

Unemployed: 54% (housewife)

Petty traders: 11%

Artisan: 17%

worker: 12%

Students: 6%

Training:

Initial 5-day non-residential training. Monthly updates held in the first three months of the intervention and two-monthly updates

Training:

2 weeks training, conducted by the Regional Health Training Unit incl. two days at the Regional Health Laboratory

Training:

Three day training.

Training conducted in Amharic

Training:

6 weeks by MOH.

Trained for two weeks on administering pre-packs: Week 1 theory and Week 2 practical

Training:

Two day training conducted in each zone of the site.

Supervision:

Fortnightly supervision by 2 members of the research team

Supervision:

Weekly supervision, by 2 members of the research team, when data was collected from CMDs, plus monthly meeting of CMDs

Supervision:

Monthly monitoring and supervision meetings were held.

10 supervisors (from Jimma Health Admin. Bureau, Jimma Zone Health Bureau and Jimma University Specialized Hospital) supervised the CMDs.

Supervision:

Regular supervision (3 times weekly) by District Malaria Coordinator, plus monthly joint meetings held with community members, District Malaria Coordinator and research team

Supervision:

Regular supervision of the each CMD by the Chief Nursing Officer of the health facility to which the CMD was attached