Antimalarial use and the associated factors in rural nigeria following implementation of affordable medicines facility-malaria (amfm) price subsidy

Abstract

This study was set out to find out the pattern of antimalarial drug use in a Nigerian rural community following the aggressive price subsidy of Artemisinin Combination Therapy(ACT) recently embarked upon by Roll Back Malaria partners through Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm). Methods Questioners were administered to 310 adult members of the community with the most recent malaria episodes so as to find out about the drugs used and some of the factors associated with the choice of the drug. Result Although the overall use of ACT (13.55%) in this community was about 4 times higher than what it used to be, Chloroquine 123(39.62%) and sulphadozine/pyrimathamine 120(38.71%) were the mostly used antimalarial agents. Choice of drug used was significantly associated with perception of efficacy and price among other factors. Respondents liked the price of ACT (33.3%) most, CQ was the drug most liked in terms of efficacy (44.2%) while SP was the drug most liked in terms of lack of side effect (38.9%), taste (61.6%) and convenience (35.7%).(P= 0.001) Conclusion In addition to sustaining the current price control, there is a need to continuously monitor and effectively regulate the quality of the ACTs in circulation so as to gain the confidence of both the prescribers and the end users regarding efficacy and adherence to ACTs. This will help to safeguard the huge investment in ACT subsidy by the Roll Back Malaria partners.

Perception of the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and chloroquine prescription pattern and among nurses in South-West Nigeria

“…The same study also revealed that nurses were the second most important group of health care workers that prescribe antimalarial drugs following doctors (11). A similar study conducted in Kenya showed that insufficient supply of ACT, cost and availability of inappropriate antimalarial such as amodiaquine were some of the reasons why healthcare workers still don't comply with ACT treatment policy (12).…”