Publication: Establishing research priorities for malaria elimination in the context of the emergency response to artemisinin resistance framework‑the Cambodian approach
Issued Date
2016
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Language
eng
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Public Health. Vol.15, (2016), 120
Suggested Citation
Canavatม Sara E., Lawfordม Harriet L. S., Fatunmbi, Bayo S., Dysoley Lek, Narann Top‑Samphor, Rithea Leang, Dondorp, Arjen M., Rekol Huy, Kazadi, Walter M. Establishing research priorities for malaria elimination in the context of the emergency response to artemisinin resistance framework‑the Cambodian approach. BMC Public Health. Vol.15, (2016), 120. doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1117-9 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/3129
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Title
Establishing research priorities for malaria elimination in the context of the emergency response to artemisinin resistance framework‑the Cambodian approach
Abstract
Background: Countries of the greater Mekong subregion have made a transition from malaria control to an aim for
falciparum and vivax malaria elimination. The elimination of falciparum malaria will have to be achieved against a
background of increasing artemisinin and multi-drug resistance. This ambitious goal requires an operational research
(OR) agenda that addresses the dynamic challenges encountered on the path to elimination, which will need to be
flexible and developed in close relation with the cambodian national programme for parasitology, entomology and
malaria control (CNM). In Cambodia, a number of meetings with stakeholders were convened by the CNM and emergency
response to artemisinin resistance (ERAR) hub, producing an initial list of priority OR topics. The process and
outcome of these meetings are described, which could serve as a template for other countries in the region.
Methods: A landscaping exercise was conducted to gather all past, on-going and planned malaria focussed OR
activities conducted by the cambodian research consortium in Cambodia and categorized according to research
theme. The six themes included (1) malaria epidemiology, surveillance and response, (2) malaria case management,
(3) malaria vector control, (4) malaria behavioural issues, (5) malaria clinical studies, and (6) other vector-borne diseases
(dengue, neglected tropical diseases, soil-transmitted helminths). The different themes were discussed in small
focus groups, which made an initial prioritization list which was then presented to a plenary group for further discussion.
This produced a list of research questions ranked according to priority.
Results: OR priorities produced by the thematic groups were discussed in the plenary meeting and given a priority
score by group voting. A list of 17 OR questions were developed, finalized and listed, which included questions on
surveillance, active case detection and treatment efficacy.
Conclusion: This paper describes ERAR’s work on supporting Cambodia’s transition to malaria elimination by identifying
national operational research priorities. ERAR has initiated and currently plays a critical role in the development
of country specific research agendas for malaria elimination. The first example of this has been the described exercise
in Cambodia, which could serve a template for setting OR priorities in the wider region.