Does improving appropriate use of malaria medicines change population beliefs in testing and treatment? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

A major puzzle in malaria treatment remains the dual problem of underuse and overuse of malaria medications, which deplete scarce public resources used for subsidies and lead to drug resistance. One explanation is that health behaviour, especially in the context of incomplete information, could be driven by beliefs, pivotal to the success of health interventions. The objective of this study is to investigate how population beliefs change in response to an experimental intervention which was shown to improve access to rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) through community health workers (CHWs) and to increase appropriate use of anti-malaria medications. By collecting data on individu- als’ beliefs on malaria testing and treatment 12 and 18 months after the experimental intervention started, we find that the intervention increases the belief that a negative test result is correct, and the belief that the first-line anti-malaria drugs (artemisinin-based combination therapies or ACTs) are effective. Using mediation analysis, we also explore some possible mechanisms through which the changes happen. We find that the experience and knowledge about RDT and experience with CHWs explain 62.4% of the relationship between the intervention and the belief that a negative test result is correct. Similarly, the targeted use of ACTs and taking the correct dose—in addition to ex- perience with RDT—explain 96.8% of the relationship between the intervention and the belief that the ACT taken is effective. As beliefs are important determinants of economic behaviour and might guide individuals’ future decisions, understanding how they change after a health intervention has important implications for long-term changes in population behaviour.