Review of Primary Care Practice and Education (Kajian Praktik dan Pendidikan Layanan Primer)
Vol 8, No 2 (2025): July

Enhancing Antimalarial Treatment Adherence: A Systematic Review of Multifaceted Intervention Strategies

Elisa Nugraha Haryadi Salakay (Medical Education Unit
Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Cenderawasih
Indonesia)

Grace Novylian Tandialo (Undergraduate Study Program
Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Cenderawasih
Indonesia)

Ricky Lazarus Rumboirusi (Undergraduate Study Program
Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Cenderawasih
Indonesia)

Grace Fitriana Primasari Hau Mahu (Department of Tropical Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Cenderawasih
Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Despite the availability of effective antimalarial medications, poor adherence remains a significant obstacle in malaria control, particularly in endemic areas. Numerous interventions have sought to enhance adherence; however, a clear understanding of their effectiveness is lacking. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention strategies to improve adherence to antimalarial treatments and identify the contextual factors that influence them. Method: Following the PRISMA guidelines, studies published between 2020 and 2025 were systematically retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. Ten studies that met the predefined inclusion criteria were analyzed using narrative thematic synthesis. The interventions were categorized into five groups: health education, digital reminders (mHealth), directly observed therapy (DOT), home visits, and family/community involvement. Results: Structured health education and mHealth strategies (e.g., SMS reminders) consistently improve medication adherence across diverse contexts. Directly observed therapy, particularly involving family supervision, significantly enhances adherence in community settings. Home visits and active community involvement promote adherence by addressing the sociocultural barriers. Multicomponent strategies that integrated educational, technological, and social elements had the highest and most sustained adherence rate. Key challenges include adverse drug reactions (ADRs), medication supply issues, complex treatment regimens, and limited health literacy. Discussion and conclusion: Improving antimalarial treatment adherence requires context-specific, multifaceted interventions that integrate education, technology, and community engagement while addressing systemic health challenges in the region. These findings provide valuable insights into the design of culturally sensitive and sustainable interventions for eliminating malaria.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

rpcpe

Publisher

Subject

Education Health Professions Medicine & Pharmacology Public Health

Description

The Review of Primary Care Practice and Education is a bilingual open access journal which provides scientific information on the field of ‘Primary Care’ and ‘Family Medicine’ in the form of research-based scientific articles, case reports, policy briefs and new findings from experts, ...