Tindana Paulina, Sekwo Daniel Enos, Baatiema Leonard, Djimde Abdoulaye
Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Pathogen Genomics Diversity Network Africa (PDNA), Bamako, Mali.
Malar J. 2024 Dec 18;23(1):385. doi: 10.1186/s12936-024-05205-5.
Malaria remains a significant public health concern, despite global efforts to combat the disease with highest burden in Africa. Reports of emerging artemisinin partial- resistance in East Africa emphasize the importance of molecular data to guide policy decisions. Hence the need for researchers to collaborate with National control programmes to conduct genomics surveillance of malaria to inform malaria control and elimination policies. This study explored genomic researchers' views on engaging with national control programmes to aid malaria elimination efforts in Africa.
This research employed an exploratory qualitative approach to investigate the views and experiences of malaria genomics researchers across 16 member countries of the Pathogen Genomic Diversity Network Africa (PDNA). In-depth interviews were conducted with each PDNA Principal Investigator, which were recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Subsequently, the data were analysed thematically with NVivo 12 qualitative data analysis software.
The study revealed that majority of malaria genomics researchers focused on understanding the genetic composition and adaptation of the malaria parasite, its vector, and human host. Their investigations delved into areas such as drug and insecticide resistance, parasite evolution, host interactions, human host susceptibility to malaria, diversity of vaccine candidates, and molecular surveillance of malaria. Challenges included limited funding, lack of interest and capacity among National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCP) to use research evidence effectively, and difficulties in communicating data implications to policymakers due to the absence of WHO-certified use cases. Despite these obstacles, researchers expressed a keen interest in forming partnerships with NMCPs to integrate genetic data into malaria control efforts in Africa. They also stressed the importance of enhancing researchers' ability to communicate findings to policymakers and local communities through policy briefs and innovative communication strategies.
The study underscores the need to strengthen partnerships between genomic researchers and NMCPs to support malaria elimination in Africa. Furthermore, researchers should create practical frameworks for easy integration into WHO reporting formats to facilitate the use of molecular and genomic data in malaria control programme decision-making.
尽管全球致力于抗击疟疾，非洲地区疟疾负担仍然是一个重大的公共卫生问题。东非出现青蒿素部分耐药性的报告强调了分子数据对指导政策决策的重要性。因此，研究人员需要与国家防控计划合作，开展疟疾基因组监测，为疟疾防控和消除政策提供依据。本研究探讨了基因组研究人员对于与国家防控计划合作以助力非洲疟疾消除工作的看法。
本研究采用探索性定性方法，调查了非洲病原体基因组多样性网络（PDNA）16个成员国疟疾基因组研究人员的观点和经验。对每位PDNA首席研究员进行了深入访谈，访谈进行了录音，并逐字转录。随后，使用NVivo 12定性数据分析软件对数据进行了主题分析。
研究表明，大多数疟疾基因组研究人员专注于了解疟原虫、其传播媒介和人类宿主的遗传组成及适应性。他们的研究深入到药物和杀虫剂抗性、寄生虫进化、宿主相互作用、人类宿主对疟疾的易感性、候选疫苗的多样性以及疟疾的分子监测等领域。挑战包括资金有限、国家疟疾防控计划（NMCP）缺乏有效利用研究证据的兴趣和能力，以及由于缺乏世卫组织认证的用例，难以将数据影响传达给政策制定者。尽管存在这些障碍，研究人员表示非常有兴趣与NMCP建立伙伴关系，将基因数据整合到非洲的疟疾防控工作中。他们还强调了通过政策简报和创新沟通策略提高研究人员向政策制定者和当地社区传达研究结果能力的重要性。
该研究强调了加强基因组研究人员与NMCP之间的伙伴关系以支持非洲疟疾消除工作的必要性。此外，研究人员应创建便于整合入世卫组织报告格式的实用框架，以促进在疟疾防控计划决策中使用分子和基因组数据。
