Bringing care to the community: expanding access to health care in rural Malawi through mobile health clinics.

SETTING: Malawi has chronic shortages of health workers, high burdens of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and malaria and a predominately rural population. Mobile health clinics (MHCs) could provide primary health care for adults and children in hard-to-reach areas. OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility, volume, and types of services provided by three MHCs from 2011 to 2013 in Mulanje District, Malawi. DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective study. RESULTS: The MHCs conducted 309 492 visits for primary health care, and in 2013 services operated on 99% of planned days. Despite an improvement in service provision, overall patient visits declined over the study period. Malaria and respiratory and gastro-intestinal conditions constituted 60% of visits. Females (n = 11 543) significantly outnumbered males (n = 2481) tested for HIV, yet males tested HIV-positive (27%) more often than females (14%). Malaria accounted for 26 421 (35%) visits for children aged <5 years, with a significant increase in the rainy season. Implementation of rapid diagnostic testing was associated with a decline in numbers treated for malaria. Antibiotic stockouts at government clinics were associated with increased MHC visits. CONCLUSION: MHCs can routinely provide primary health care for adults and children living in rural Malawi and complement fixed clinics. Moving from a complementary role to integration within the government health system remains a challenge.

Cadre : Le Mialawi soufre d'un manque chronique de personnel de santé, d'un lourd fardeau d'infection au virus de l'mmuodéficience humaine (VIH) et de paludisme avec une population surtout rurale. Des unités de santé mobiles (MHCs) pourraient fournir des soins de santé primaires aux adultes et aux enfants dans les zones d'accès difficile.Objectifs : Déterminer la faisabilité, le volume et les types de services fournis par trois MHCs de 2011 à 2013 dans le district de Mulanje, Malawi.Schéma : Etude rétrospective transversale.Résultats : Les MHCs ont effectué 309 492 consultations de soins de santé primaires et en 2013, les services ont fonctionné pendant 99% des jours prévus. En dépit d'une amélioration dans la fourniture des services, le total des consultations de patients a décliné au cours de la période d'étude. Le paludisme et les problèmes respiratoires et gastro-intestinaux constituaient 60% des consultations. Les femmes étaient significativement plus nombreuses (n = 11 543) que les hommes (n = 2481) à avoir un test VIH, mais les hommes étaient plus souvent VIH positifs (27%) que les femmes (14%). Le paludisme représentait 26 421 (35%) consultations pour les enfants de moins de 5 ans avec une augmentation significative en saison des pluies. La mise en œuvre des tests de diagnostic rapide a été associée à un déclin du nombre de patients traités pour paludisme. Les ruptures de stock d'antibiotiques dans les centres de santé du gouvernement étaient associés à une augmentation des consultations des MHC.Conclusion : Les MHC peuvent offrir en routine des soins de santé primaires aux adultes et aux enfants vivant dans les zones rurales du Malawi et compléter les structures fixes. Mais passer d'un rôle de complément à l'intégration au sein du système de santé du gouvernement reste un défi.

Marco de referencia: Malawi soporta una escasez crónica de personal sanitario, altas cargas de morbilidad por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y el paludismo y su población es predominantemente rural. Los dispensarios ambulantes (MHC) podrían aportar atención primaria de salud a los adultos y los niños en las zonas de difícil acceso.Objetivo: Examinar la factibilidad de la prestación de servicios ambulantes y determinar el volumen y los tipos de atención suministrados durante una intervención privada en tres MHC del 2011 al 2013 en el distrito de Mulanje, en Malawi.Método: Fue este un estudio transversal retrospectivo.Resultados: En los dispensarios ambulantes se practicaron 309 492 consultas de atención primaria y en el 2013, los servicios funcionaron durante el 99% de los días planeados. Pese a un progreso en la prestación de servicios, el número global de consultas disminuyó durante el período del estudio. El paludismo, las enfermedades respiratorias y gastrointestinales constituyeron el motivo de consulta en el 60% de los casos. Las mujeres fueron significativamente más numerosas que los hombres a practicar la prueba diagnóstica del VIH (11 543 contra 2481), pero los hombres obtuvieron con mayor frecuencia un resultado positivo (27% contra 14%). El paludismo correspondió a 26 421 consultas en los niños menores de 5 años de edad (35%) y se observó un aumento considerable en la temporada de lluvias. La ejecución de las pruebas diagnósticas rápidas se asoció con una disminución del número de pacientes tratados por paludismo. Los desabastecimientos de antibióticos en los consultorios gubernamentales se asociaron con un aumento en el número de consultas a los consultorios ambulantes.Conclusión: Los MHC pueden suministrar atención sanitaria sistemática a los adultos y los niños que viven en las zonas rurales de Malawi y completar así la atención prestada por los consultorios fijos. La evolución de este sistema, de una función complementaria a su integración en los sistemas nacionales de salud, sigue siendo una tarea difícil.

Using mobile clinics to deliver HIV testing and other basic health services in rural Malawi.

CONTEXT: The majority of Malawians are impoverished and primarily dependant on subsistence farming, with 85% of the population living in a rural area. The country is highly affected by HIV and under-resourced rural health centers struggle to meet the government's goal of expanding HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment, and other basic services. ISSUE: This report describes the work of two four-wheel drive mobile clinics launched in 2008 to fill an identified service gap in the remote areas of Mulanje District, Malawi. The program was developed by an international non-governmental organization, Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA), and the Mulanje District Health Office, with funding from the Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation. The clinics provide: (1) rapid HIV testing and treatment referral; (2) diagnosis and treatment of malaria; (3) sputum collection for TB screening; (4) diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections; and (5) pre-natal care. The clinic vehicles provide medical supplies and personnel (a clinical officer, nurse, and nurse aide) to set up clinics in community buildings such as churches or schools. LESSONS LEARNED: In such a project, the implementation process and schedule can be affected by medication, supply chain and infrastructural issues, as well as governmental and non-governmental requirements. Timelines should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate unexpected delays. Once established, service scheduling should be flexible and responsive; for instance, malaria treatment rather than HIV testing was most urgently needed in the season when these services were launched. Assessing the impact of healthcare delivery in Malawi is challenging. Although mobile clinic and the government Health Management Information System (HMIS) data were matched, inconsistent variables and gaps in data made direct comparisons difficult. Data collection was compromised by the competing demand of high patient volume; however, rather than reducing the burden on existing health centers, the data suggest that the mobile clinics provided services for people who otherwise may not have attended a health center. The GAIA mobile clinics were integrated into a catchment area through a community participation model, allowing point-of-care primary health services to be provided to thousands of people in remote rural villagers. Strong relationships have been forged with local community leaders and with Malawi Ministry of Health officers as the foundation for long-term sustainable engagement and eventual integration of services into Health Ministry programs.