The primary objective of this study is to establish the factors that have contributed to the preponderance of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria despite the laws. Data was gathered by a combination of the use of questionnaires and oral interviews. The results suggest that drug laws were adequate falling short only in their implementation. The task forces were rated as ineffective arising from corruption, communication gaps, lack of adequate funds, lack of vehicles, etc.
Assessing and analyzing local malaria problems are a prerequisite for successful control interventions. We sought to assess the knowledge of the symptoms of malaria, attitude towards preventive measures as well as treatment seeking behaviors among members of the Ile-Ife community in southwestern Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire, which was self or researcher administered to community members of semi -urban Ile-Ife. Analysis of "what respondents will do first" during malaria attack showed that 35.5%, 0.9% and 13.4% of respondents will use synthetic anti -malarials, consult a herbalist and use local herb, respectively, while 27.3%, 1.7% and 18.2% will go to the hospital, take spiritual/ritual waters for cure and just pray, respectively, with 3.0% of the respondents indicating that they will ignore the signs. Factors influencing respondents' choice of malaria treatment and preventive methods included cost, religious beliefs, perceived safety, convenience and respondents' state of health for 22.7%, 5.4%, 20.8%, 26.5% and 24.6% of the respondents, respectively. The use of insecticide impregnated net are uncommon amongst the respondents (0%). Treatment seeking practice in malaria was related to level of education and religion. We found that convenience and the severity of the disease affected respondents' choice of treatment in more than 50% of the cases. We suggest that malaria public enlightenment efforts should be intensified, effective malaria preventive methods be made affordable and that support be provided to make malaria treatments at public hospitals free.
A worksite study of hypertension prevalence was carried out in a university community in Southwestern Nigeria. Overall crude prevalence was 21% in the respondent population. About 16% of these were already on treatment with medicines. The study established no significant (p>0.05) relationship between coffee consumption and hypertension. Prevalence was 32% in subjects with over 3 children, while among subjects with eye problem, diabetics and those who took local kola nuts and it was 18.6%, 1.9% and 7.4%, respectively. There is need for increased awareness of the disease and other cardiovascular risk factors within the populace and to encourage the possession or provision of self-measurement blood pressure devices.
To reduce the risk of prescribing errors, a number of strategies addressing individual, task, team, and environmental factors such as training of junior doctors, enforcing good practice in prescription writing, supervision, and reviewing the workload of junior doctors must be established.
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