Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41737900›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025

Strategic resource allocation for malaria elimination in endemic settings: a systematic review of cost-effectiveness evidence.

Misra Helma Firdaus, Dina Syazana Ho Imran, Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Tam Jenn Zhueng, Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid, Zulkarnain Md Idris, Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Misra Helma FirdausDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dina Syazana Ho ImranDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sharifa Ezat Wan PutehDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tam Jenn ZhuengVector Borne Disease, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health (MOH), Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Mohd Hafizi Abdul HamidVector Borne Disease, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health (MOH), Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Zulkarnain Md IdrisDepartment of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mohd Rizal Abdul ManafDepartment of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria remains a significant global health burden, especially in endemic regions where efficient use of limited resources is critical. Economic evaluations provide essential evidence to guide strategic resource allocation and optimise intervention outcomes. This systematic review synthesises recent evidence (2018-2025) on the cost-effectiveness of malaria prevention and treatment interventions in endemic settings. Materials and methods: A systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed identified English-language studies published between 2018 and 2025. Eligible studies included full economic evaluations cost effectiveness (CEA), cost utility (CUA), and cost benefit analysis (CBA) assessing malaria prevention or treatment programs. Data extracted included intervention types, comparators, outcomes, costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, mainly randomised trials evaluating insecticide-treated or long-lasting insecticidal nets (ITNs/LLINs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), diagnostics, treatment strategies, and combined interventions. Most were conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa LLINs and IRS were highly cost-effective, with costs per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted below national GDP thresholds. Combined approaches enhanced effectiveness in high-resistance or high-burden settings, while complex strategies, such as tafenoquine with G6PD screening, showed higher ICERs due to additional costs and operational challenges. Conclusion: Most malaria interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa were highly cost-effective, including LLINs (with PBO nets), IRS (Actellic/3GIRS), combined LLIN + IRS, SMC/PDMC, IPTp, and ACT + RDT. RTS,S vaccination and RDT + microscopy were moderately cost-effective, while G6PD screening with tafenoquine and traveller chemoprophylaxis were context-specific or less cost-effective. A socio-ecological framework underscores the need to align policies with economic evidence for optimal resource allocation and accelerated malaria elimination. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024546911, PROSPERO Registration: CRD42024546911.

Indexed as

Cost-Benefit AnalysisCost-Effectiveness AnalysisDisease EradicationEndemic DiseasesMalariaResource AllocationHumanscost-effectivenesseconomic evaluationendemic settingsmalariaresource allocationsocio-ecological model

Identifiers

PMID41737900
PMCPMC12926903

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.