Study procedures
malaria
MALARIA, BLOOD
One day before the planned start date of the study, written informed consent was obtained, and a pre-labelled stool collection cup was given to the parents/caregivers of eligible children. The parents/caregivers were encouraged to collect a stool sample from their children and to keep this safely for the research team to collect the following day. On the start day of the study (Day 0), after a research staff had confirmed that the parents had provided informed consent and the older children assent, a purpose-designed electronic questionnaire was administered to the parents/caregivers. The questionnaire collected information on items such as socio-demographic status, health and residence characteristics, history of de-worming and malaria treatment. The height/length (cm) and weight (kg) of each child participant were measured and the anthropometric indices height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and body mass index, were calculated using the WHO AnthroPlus software (Prior to the administration of the study drugs, a finger-prick blood sample was collected from each child for malaria microscopy, and a blood spot filter paper sample was collected for DNA extraction and PCR amplification for species determination. Freshly voided urine and stool samples were also collected from all study children. The administration of the study drugs to the children and their subsequent safety assessments are described below. A post-intervention survey was conducted 5 months after co-administration of the study medications to assess the effectiveness of the combined treatment approach. Blood, urine and stool samples were collected again from all study participants during the post-intervention survey.