Ruth Ashton
Biographic Data
| ID | 7697436 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ruth Ashton |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ruth |
| FAMILY NAME | Ashton |
| SIGNATURE | ASHTON R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Coventry University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6282-0352 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 4 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 22 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Early impact of the Liberian National Community Health Assistant Program on under-five mortality in Grand Bassa County
Liberia instituted a National Community Health Assistant Program (NCHAP) to increase primary healthcare access for residents living >5 km from health facilities. We evaluated the impact of this program on under-five mortality in rural Grand Bassa County as it was rolled out, between 2018 and 2022. The program was implemented in a stepped manner two districts at-a-time across Grand Bassa County from 2018 to 2022, allowing for a quasi-experimental …
Acceptability of insecticide treated nets in an urban setting in a malarious area
Malaria has long been considered a rural disease. However, rapid urbanization, the expansion of urban malaria vectors, and the subsequent, ongoing surge in malaria cases across sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, underscore the need to address malaria in urban contexts. This study therefore aims to explore the acceptability of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in an urban setting using the theoretical framework of acceptability. Eight Focus…
A scoping literature review of rehabilitation policy recommendations during the Covid-19 pandemic in the WHO European Region
BACKGROUND: As with other frontline healthcare services, the delivery of rehabilitation services has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with many services suspended, despite WHO's mandate that rehabilitation is an essential service. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to provide an overview of policy responses that were taken across the WHO European Region to identify systems and processes that helped to inform and shape decisions pertaining…
Disparities in long-lasting insecticidal bed net usage and malaria burden 2 years after a mass distribution campaign in central Côte d’Ivoire
Identifying and tackling inequities in long-lasting insecticidal bed net (LLIN) coverage and usage is key in reducing malaria burden. This baseline study, prior to an LLIN trial, describes factors associated with LLIN usage and malaria infection prevalence, two years after a mass distribution in Côte d’Ivoire. In July 2023, cross-sectional data were obtained from randomly selected individuals of all ages in each of 33 study clusters, capturing in…
Knowledge, attitudes and factors associated with the awareness of caregivers of under-five children regarding the malaria vaccine in the Tiko Health District, Cameroon
Despite progress in malaria control, malaria remains a major public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among children under five. The introduction of malaria vaccines, including RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and the recently WHO-recommended R21/Matrix-M, offers renewed hope for reducing malaria morbidity and mortality. The effectiveness of these vaccines, however, depends largely on caregivers’ awareness, knowledge, and attitudes. This st…
Feasibility and effectiveness of tailored interventions for two populations at high-risk of malaria in Senegal
Senegal has made significant progress in reducing the malaria burden over the last decade. However, malaria remains a major cause of morbidity in some regions and key challenges exist among high-risk populations who have high exposure to mosquitos, but low coverage and use of vector control measures and limited access to healthcare. Two identified high-risk populations are goldminers and talibés (Koranic school students). We conducted a controlle…
Impact of seasonal malaria chemoprevention timing on clinical malaria incidence dynamics in the Kedougou region, Senegal
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine is recommended by the World Health Organization since 2012 for clinical malaria prevention in children in the Sahelian region of Africa. In Senegal, SMC implementation began in 2013 and is given to children under 10 years old. This study aimed to describe clinical malaria incidence in the general population during routine SMC implementation and to analyse how SM…
Community-based surveillance system structures and knowledge level of community-based surveillance volunteers on priority diseases in Ghana
Community-based disease surveillance (CBS) is the backbone of the disease surveillance system in Ghana. The activities of Community-based Disease Surveillance Volunteers (CBSVs) in the Central Region have had a positive impact on the health of community members. However, little is known about the Surveillance System Structures (SSSs) and the CBSVs’ knowledge levels on the various priority diseases and events. We used a cross-sectional descriptive…
Subnational tailoring of malaria interventions for strategic planning and prioritization
In the context of high malaria burden and insufficient resources, several national malaria programs (NMPs) used subnational tailoring (SNT) as a tool for evidence-informed decision-making on their national malaria strategic plans and funding requests. SNT is a data-informed method of developing intervention plans that maximize health impact under limited resources across heterogenous areas and populations. The SNT process included the formation o…
Profiling the persistent and episodic nature of long Covid symptoms and the impact on quality of life and functional status
Background: Post-viral issues following acute infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), referred to widely as long COVID, are associated with episodic, persistent, and disabling symptoms affecting quality of life and functional status. Evidence demonstrates a significant impairment and long disease course, but there remains limited empirical data to profile and determine the fluctuating symptom profile of long COVID. Methods: We devised…
Dramatic resurgence of malaria after 7 years of intensive vector control interventions in Eastern Uganda
Tororo District, Uganda experienced a dramatic decrease in malaria burden from 2015–19 during 5 years of indoor residual spraying (IRS) with carbamate (Bendiocarb) and then organophosphate (Actellic) insecticides. However, a marked resurgence occurred in 2020, which coincided with a change to a clothianidin-based IRS formulations (Fludora Fusion/SumiShield). To quantify the magnitude of the resurgence, investigate causes, and evaluate the impact …
Implementation and effectiveness outcomes of Community Health Advocacy Teams to improve long-lasting insecticide net distribution and use in six districts in Ghana
Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death especially among children and pregnant women in Ghana. Despite the efforts made by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), including distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) to households through periodic Point Mass Distribution (PMD) campaigns and continuous channels (antenatal, schools and postnatal), there is a gap between access and use of LLINs in Ghana. An effectiv…
Optimizing test and treat options for vivax malaria
Designing policy in public health is a complex process requiring decision making that incorporates available evidence and is suitable to a country’s epidemiological and health system context. The main objective of this study was to develop an options assessment toolkit (OAT) to provide a pragmatic and evidence-based approach to the development of policies for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of vivax malaria for national malaria control p…
Impact of four years of annually repeated indoor residual spraying (IRS) with Actellic 300CS on routinely reported malaria cases in an agricultural setting in Malawi
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is one of the main vector control tools used in malaria prevention. This study evaluates IRS in the context of a privately run campaign conducted across a low-lying, irrigated, sugarcane estate from Illovo Sugar, in the Chikwawa district of Malawi. The effect of Actellic 300CS annual spraying over four years (2015-2018) was assessed using a negative binomial mixed effects model, in an area where pyrethroid resistanc…
Sustaining village malaria worker programmes with expanded roles
Background In Vietnam, multiple types of community-based malaria workers are recruited to promote access to malaria testing and treatment for at-risk mobile and migrant populations. However, as the country approaches elimination, these roles are at risk from declining investment. This article characterises the different types of workers and relevant health policy in Vietnam, and explores stakeholder perspectives on sustaining and expanding the ro…
Starting at the community
Community health workers (CHW) usually refer children with suspected severe malaria to the nearest public health facility or a designated public referral health facility (RHF). Caregivers do not always follow this recommendation. This study aimed at identifying post-referral treatment-seeking pathways that lead to appropriate antimalarial treatment for children less than five years with suspected severe malaria. An observational study in Uganda e…
The quality of malaria case management in different transmission settings in Tanzania mainland, 2017–2018
Tanzania is undergoing an epidemiological transition for malaria transmission with some areas of the country having d ̄ ) = 2.52; (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.12, 3.91)], site readiness [ d ̄ = 2.97; (95% CI 1.30, 4.61)], availability of malaria reference materials [ d ̄ = 4.91; (95% CI 2.05, 7.76)], availability of Health Management Information System tools [ d ̄ = 5.86; (95% CI 3.80, 7.92)] and patient satisfaction [ d ̄ = 6.61; (95% CI 3.75…
Characterisation of populations at risk of sub-optimal dosing of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Africa
Selection of resistant malaria strains occurs when parasites are exposed to inadequate antimalarial drug concentrations. The proportion of uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients at risk of being sub-optimally dosed with the current World Health Organization (WHO) recommended artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is unknown. This study aims to estimate this proportion and the excess number of treatment failures (recrudescences) associa…
Predicting adherence to postdischarge malaria chemoprevention in Malawian pre-school children
Chemoprevention with antimalarials is a key strategy for malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa. Three months of postdischarge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) reduces malaria-related mortality and morbidity in pre-school children recently discharged from hospital following recovery from severe anemia. Research on adherence to preventive antimalarials in children is scarce. We aimed to investigate the predictors for caregivers’ adherence to three co…
Long Covid quality of life and healthcare experiences in the UK
Long COVID has a severe impact on the ability to live life fully, and strains mental health. The appropriate mechanisms and support services are needed to support those living with long COVID and manage symptoms
Malaria outbreak facilitated by engagement in activities near swamps following increased rainfall and limited preventive measures
In April 2019, the District Health Office of Oyam District, Uganda reported an upsurge in malaria cases exceeding expected epidemic thresholds, requiring outbreak response. We investigated the scope of outbreak and identified exposures for transmission to inform control measures. A confirmed case was a positive malaria rapid diagnostic test or malaria microscopy from 1 January—30 June 2019 in a resident or visitor of Acaba Sub-county, Oyam Distri…
Stratification of malaria incidence in Papua New Guinea (2011–2019)
Malaria risk in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is highly heterogeneous, between and within geographical regions, which is operationally challenging for control. To enhance targeting of malaria interventions in PNG, we investigated risk factors and stratified malaria incidence at the level of health facility catchment areas. Catchment areas and populations of 808 health facilities were delineated using a travel-time accessibility approach and linked to re…
Resurgence of malaria in Uganda despite sustained indoor residual spraying and repeated long lasting insecticidal net distributions
Five years of sustained indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticide from 2014 to 2019, first using a carbamate followed by an organophosphate, was associated with a marked reduction in the incidence of malaria in five districts of Uganda. We assessed changes in malaria incidence over an additional 21 months, corresponding to a change in IRS formulations using clothianidin with and without deltamethrin. Using enhanced health facility surveillanc…
Indoor residual spraying with a non-pyrethroid insecticide reduces the reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum in a high-transmission area in northern Ghana
High-malaria burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa are shifting from malaria control towards elimination. Hence, there is need to gain a contemporary understanding of how indoor residual spraying (IRS) with non-pyrethroid insecticides when combined with long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) impregnated with pyrethroid insecticides, contribute to the efforts of National Malaria Control Programmes to interrupt transmission and reduce the reservoi…
Is long Covid the next global health crisis
The rapid development and deployment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines should be heralded as a feat of true scientific collaboration that saved millions of lives [1]. Despite the success, vaccines do not offer complete protection against infection, mild, and severe disease [2–5] and the development of a long-term complex symptom profile, commonly referred to [...]
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Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence in East Africa
The High Burden High Impact (HBHI) strategy for malaria encourages countries to use multiple sources of available data to define the sub-national vulnerabilities to malaria risk, including parasite prevalence. Here, a modelled estimate of Plasmodium falciparum from an updated assembly of community parasite survey data in Kenya, mainland Tanzania, and Uganda is presented and used to provide a more contemporary understanding of the sub-national mal…
Malaria outbreak facilitated by engagement in activities near swamps following increased rainfall and limited preventive measures
In April 2019, the District Health Office of Oyam District, Uganda reported an upsurge in malaria cases exceeding expected epidemic thresholds, requiring outbreak response. We investigated the scope of outbreak and identified exposures for transmission to inform control measures. A confirmed case was a positive malaria rapid diagnostic test or malaria microscopy from 1 January—30 June 2019 in a resident or visitor of Acaba Sub-county, Oyam Distri…
Stratification of malaria incidence in Papua New Guinea (2011–2019)
Malaria risk in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is highly heterogeneous, between and within geographical regions, which is operationally challenging for control. To enhance targeting of malaria interventions in PNG, we investigated risk factors and stratified malaria incidence at the level of health facility catchment areas. Catchment areas and populations of 808 health facilities were delineated using a travel-time accessibility approach and linked to re…
Resurgence of malaria in Uganda despite sustained indoor residual spraying and repeated long lasting insecticidal net distributions
Five years of sustained indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticide from 2014 to 2019, first using a carbamate followed by an organophosphate, was associated with a marked reduction in the incidence of malaria in five districts of Uganda. We assessed changes in malaria incidence over an additional 21 months, corresponding to a change in IRS formulations using clothianidin with and without deltamethrin. Using enhanced health facility surveillanc…
Indoor residual spraying with a non-pyrethroid insecticide reduces the reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum in a high-transmission area in northern Ghana
High-malaria burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa are shifting from malaria control towards elimination. Hence, there is need to gain a contemporary understanding of how indoor residual spraying (IRS) with non-pyrethroid insecticides when combined with long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) impregnated with pyrethroid insecticides, contribute to the efforts of National Malaria Control Programmes to interrupt transmission and reduce the reservoi…
Is long Covid the next global health crisis
The rapid development and deployment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines should be heralded as a feat of true scientific collaboration that saved millions of lives [1]. Despite the success, vaccines do not offer complete protection against infection, mild, and severe disease [2–5] and the development of a long-term complex symptom profile, commonly referred to [...]
Starting at the community
Community health workers (CHW) usually refer children with suspected severe malaria to the nearest public health facility or a designated public referral health facility (RHF). Caregivers do not always follow this recommendation. This study aimed at identifying post-referral treatment-seeking pathways that lead to appropriate antimalarial treatment for children less than five years with suspected severe malaria. An observational study in Uganda e…
The quality of malaria case management in different transmission settings in Tanzania mainland, 2017–2018
Tanzania is undergoing an epidemiological transition for malaria transmission with some areas of the country having d ̄ ) = 2.52; (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.12, 3.91)], site readiness [ d ̄ = 2.97; (95% CI 1.30, 4.61)], availability of malaria reference materials [ d ̄ = 4.91; (95% CI 2.05, 7.76)], availability of Health Management Information System tools [ d ̄ = 5.86; (95% CI 3.80, 7.92)] and patient satisfaction [ d ̄ = 6.61; (95% CI 3.75…
Characterisation of populations at risk of sub-optimal dosing of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Africa
Selection of resistant malaria strains occurs when parasites are exposed to inadequate antimalarial drug concentrations. The proportion of uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients at risk of being sub-optimally dosed with the current World Health Organization (WHO) recommended artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is unknown. This study aims to estimate this proportion and the excess number of treatment failures (recrudescences) associa…
Predicting adherence to postdischarge malaria chemoprevention in Malawian pre-school children
Chemoprevention with antimalarials is a key strategy for malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa. Three months of postdischarge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) reduces malaria-related mortality and morbidity in pre-school children recently discharged from hospital following recovery from severe anemia. Research on adherence to preventive antimalarials in children is scarce. We aimed to investigate the predictors for caregivers’ adherence to three co…
Long Covid quality of life and healthcare experiences in the UK
Long COVID has a severe impact on the ability to live life fully, and strains mental health. The appropriate mechanisms and support services are needed to support those living with long COVID and manage symptoms
Dramatic resurgence of malaria after 7 years of intensive vector control interventions in Eastern Uganda
Tororo District, Uganda experienced a dramatic decrease in malaria burden from 2015–19 during 5 years of indoor residual spraying (IRS) with carbamate (Bendiocarb) and then organophosphate (Actellic) insecticides. However, a marked resurgence occurred in 2020, which coincided with a change to a clothianidin-based IRS formulations (Fludora Fusion/SumiShield). To quantify the magnitude of the resurgence, investigate causes, and evaluate the impact …
Implementation and effectiveness outcomes of Community Health Advocacy Teams to improve long-lasting insecticide net distribution and use in six districts in Ghana
Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death especially among children and pregnant women in Ghana. Despite the efforts made by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), including distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) to households through periodic Point Mass Distribution (PMD) campaigns and continuous channels (antenatal, schools and postnatal), there is a gap between access and use of LLINs in Ghana. An effectiv…
Optimizing test and treat options for vivax malaria
Designing policy in public health is a complex process requiring decision making that incorporates available evidence and is suitable to a country’s epidemiological and health system context. The main objective of this study was to develop an options assessment toolkit (OAT) to provide a pragmatic and evidence-based approach to the development of policies for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of vivax malaria for national malaria control p…
Impact of four years of annually repeated indoor residual spraying (IRS) with Actellic 300CS on routinely reported malaria cases in an agricultural setting in Malawi
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is one of the main vector control tools used in malaria prevention. This study evaluates IRS in the context of a privately run campaign conducted across a low-lying, irrigated, sugarcane estate from Illovo Sugar, in the Chikwawa district of Malawi. The effect of Actellic 300CS annual spraying over four years (2015-2018) was assessed using a negative binomial mixed effects model, in an area where pyrethroid resistanc…
Sustaining village malaria worker programmes with expanded roles
Background In Vietnam, multiple types of community-based malaria workers are recruited to promote access to malaria testing and treatment for at-risk mobile and migrant populations. However, as the country approaches elimination, these roles are at risk from declining investment. This article characterises the different types of workers and relevant health policy in Vietnam, and explores stakeholder perspectives on sustaining and expanding the ro…
Feasibility and effectiveness of tailored interventions for two populations at high-risk of malaria in Senegal
Senegal has made significant progress in reducing the malaria burden over the last decade. However, malaria remains a major cause of morbidity in some regions and key challenges exist among high-risk populations who have high exposure to mosquitos, but low coverage and use of vector control measures and limited access to healthcare. Two identified high-risk populations are goldminers and talibés (Koranic school students). We conducted a controlle…
Impact of seasonal malaria chemoprevention timing on clinical malaria incidence dynamics in the Kedougou region, Senegal
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine is recommended by the World Health Organization since 2012 for clinical malaria prevention in children in the Sahelian region of Africa. In Senegal, SMC implementation began in 2013 and is given to children under 10 years old. This study aimed to describe clinical malaria incidence in the general population during routine SMC implementation and to analyse how SM…
Community-based surveillance system structures and knowledge level of community-based surveillance volunteers on priority diseases in Ghana
Community-based disease surveillance (CBS) is the backbone of the disease surveillance system in Ghana. The activities of Community-based Disease Surveillance Volunteers (CBSVs) in the Central Region have had a positive impact on the health of community members. However, little is known about the Surveillance System Structures (SSSs) and the CBSVs’ knowledge levels on the various priority diseases and events. We used a cross-sectional descriptive…
Subnational tailoring of malaria interventions for strategic planning and prioritization
In the context of high malaria burden and insufficient resources, several national malaria programs (NMPs) used subnational tailoring (SNT) as a tool for evidence-informed decision-making on their national malaria strategic plans and funding requests. SNT is a data-informed method of developing intervention plans that maximize health impact under limited resources across heterogenous areas and populations. The SNT process included the formation o…
Profiling the persistent and episodic nature of long Covid symptoms and the impact on quality of life and functional status
Background: Post-viral issues following acute infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), referred to widely as long COVID, are associated with episodic, persistent, and disabling symptoms affecting quality of life and functional status. Evidence demonstrates a significant impairment and long disease course, but there remains limited empirical data to profile and determine the fluctuating symptom profile of long COVID. Methods: We devised…
Early impact of the Liberian National Community Health Assistant Program on under-five mortality in Grand Bassa County
Liberia instituted a National Community Health Assistant Program (NCHAP) to increase primary healthcare access for residents living >5 km from health facilities. We evaluated the impact of this program on under-five mortality in rural Grand Bassa County as it was rolled out, between 2018 and 2022. The program was implemented in a stepped manner two districts at-a-time across Grand Bassa County from 2018 to 2022, allowing for a quasi-experimental …
Acceptability of insecticide treated nets in an urban setting in a malarious area
Malaria has long been considered a rural disease. However, rapid urbanization, the expansion of urban malaria vectors, and the subsequent, ongoing surge in malaria cases across sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, underscore the need to address malaria in urban contexts. This study therefore aims to explore the acceptability of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in an urban setting using the theoretical framework of acceptability. Eight Focus…
A scoping literature review of rehabilitation policy recommendations during the Covid-19 pandemic in the WHO European Region
BACKGROUND: As with other frontline healthcare services, the delivery of rehabilitation services has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with many services suspended, despite WHO's mandate that rehabilitation is an essential service. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to provide an overview of policy responses that were taken across the WHO European Region to identify systems and processes that helped to inform and shape decisions pertaining…
Disparities in long-lasting insecticidal bed net usage and malaria burden 2 years after a mass distribution campaign in central Côte d’Ivoire
Identifying and tackling inequities in long-lasting insecticidal bed net (LLIN) coverage and usage is key in reducing malaria burden. This baseline study, prior to an LLIN trial, describes factors associated with LLIN usage and malaria infection prevalence, two years after a mass distribution in Côte d’Ivoire. In July 2023, cross-sectional data were obtained from randomly selected individuals of all ages in each of 33 study clusters, capturing in…
Medicine (21 works) · Malaria (19 works) · Malaria Research and Control (17 works) · Environmental health (15 works) · Mosquito-borne diseases and control (14 works) · Geography (8 works) · Immunology (8 works) · Nursing (8 works) · Population (8 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (7 works)