Table 3 Operational research topics identified and scored
Thematic area | Operational research topic | Significance to malaria elimination | Feasibility of scaling up nationwide | Capacity | Potential for funding | Political will | Urgency | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Malaria epidemiology, surveillance and response | MMP surveillance | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
Improved case surveillance | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | |
2. Malaria case management | Asymptomatic cases and active surveillance and treatment | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
Feasibility of conducting DOTs for malaria cases | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | |
Use of microscopy as a primary method of laboratory confirmed diagnosis for malaria and establishment of a quality control program | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | |
3. Control of malaria vectors | Vector Mapping—changing environment/epidemiology/variation across the country requires research into vectors (changing biting patters, life‐cycle, species, exo/endophilic, etc., insecticide resistance) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
Bed net research—good national coverage, but how effective are they, are they protecting the most at risk populations (mobile migrant workers); sleeping behaviour of the net use net preference studies (hammocks, texture, colour) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 | |
4. Malaria behavioural issues | How does DOTs change behaviour of the patients? Adherence of DOTs | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
How can we increase participatory village interventions? Active community involvement such as active case detection? | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | |
How can we increase the malaria education provided to patients by health facilities/VMWs? | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
How best to communicate with MMPs/forest goers? | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 | |
5. Malaria clinical studies | First line treatment drug efficacy (Pf, Pv) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 16 |
New ACTs drug efficacy, Artesunate + Pyronaridine | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 14 | |
Safety of primaquine (G6PD screening) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 15 | |
6. Other vector borne diseases (Dengue, NTDs, STHs) | Dengue/Chikungunya surveillance and estimation of disease burden—lacking in adult and private sector | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
To determine a sustainable, effective and ecologically safe vector control measure for dengue control | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | |
NTD surveillance and estimation of disease burden—lacking in private sector | N/ A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | |
NTD surveillance and vector control | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 |