A Research Study to Understand the Impact and Cost-effectiveness of a Digital Health Platform for iCCM in Uganda

Following national guidelines, 2 VHTs per village will be supported to provide the full eCHIS community health package. In total 856 VHTs in Buikwe district will have been trained and equipped with the national strategy and operational guidelines on eCHIS as well as the VHT full package (iCCM+ and VHT basic package (reproductive health, immunization, nutrition) guidelines. The VHTs will be equipped with mobile devices and iCCM supplies to start the management of community-based health among children aged five years within their respective communities. A cross-sectional cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) will be used to establish study outcomes in children under 5 years in the intervention and control areas using mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) of data collection.

A total sample size of 1,140 children under five: 570 children under five, per arm, was scientifically determined for the study. During data collection, several quality control measures will be applied to ensure the data recorded reflect the facts, responses, observations, and events. A standard operating procedure (SOP) with roles and responsibilities of the data collectors will be prepared to ensure standardized methods for capturing data. After endline data collection, difference-in-differences (DID) analysis will be done to derive an estimate of the intervention effect on odds of the study outcomes.

Results will be disseminated through agreed peer-review publications and international conferences. Malaria Consortium Uganda will work with relevant stakeholders at the Ministry of Health and Medic Mobile to disseminate findings nationally and throughout the study district.