Health worker adherence to malaria treatment guidelines at outpatient health facilities in southern Malawi following implementation of universal access to diagnostic testing

Table 1 Malaria definitions

1. Suspect uncomplicated malaria categories by age and pregnancy status
Children <5 years of age or pregnant women in the first trimester:
History of fever^a or measured axillary temperature ≥37.5 °C
Patients ≥5 years of age
History of fever^a or measured axillary temperature ≥37.5 °C AND at least one additional sign or symptom suggestive of malaria (i.e., chills, muscle or joint pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, nausea, dizziness, fatigue or abdominal pain)
2. Suspect severe malaria
Patients with any of the following: history of convulsions, lethargy, no urine output, jaundice, coca-cola-coloured urine, palmar pallor, or vomiting everything
For patients <5 years of age, neck stiffness or unable to drink or breastfeed were also included

^aHistory of fever was defined as: (1) Patient mentioned that their current illness involved a fever when asked by surveyor during the exit interview. (2) Patient spontaneously reported fever to the HW. (3) Patient reported fever to the HW or surveyor when asked

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