Awareness of the National Antimalarial Treatment Policy and Malaria Self-care Practices among Medical Students and the Staff of the University of Calabar, Nigeria

Iwuafor, A. A.; Udoh, Ubong; Ita, Okokon Ita; Ekeng, Bassey E.; Irokanulo, Uchechukwu; Abraka, Bode A

doi:10.36348/sjpm.2019.v04i11.005

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…16,17 It is also the most widely used ACT antimalarial treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. 7 An earlier study conducted at the University of Calabar by Iwuafor et al 18 discovered a lower ACT preference of 60.3% among medical students. This could be because the survey only included fourth-year clinical students, who may not have been exposed to various aspects of therapeutics and treatment guidelines at this level of training.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Artemisinin-based combination therapy amongst medical students in the University of Benin, South-South Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Ayinbuomwan

Opadeyi²,

Isah³

2022

Ann Clin Biomed Res

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Since 2005, the recommended first-line therapy for uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria has been Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT). Previous research indicates that these therapies are widely accepted by health care providers and other end users. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the preferences of clinical students who will be future prescribers of these medications. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey of medical students undergoing clinical placements at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Edo State, South-South Nigeria, to assess ACT preferences, tolerability, and cost considerations. Consenting clinical medical students who were recruited sequentially were given a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information about the students' demographics, previous episodes of malaria symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Their preferred antimalarial, tolerability to ACTs, and ACT cost. The information was presented descriptively. There were 475 registered clinical students, but only 416 agreed to participate in the survey, yielding an 87.6% response rate. The students' mean (standard deviation) age was 24.3 (3.8) years, with a male preponderance of 250 (60.1%). The majority, 154 (37.0%), were in the 600 level, while the 500 and 400 levels were 130 (31.3%) and 132 (31.7%), respectively. The majority of students, 272 (65.5%), treated malaria presumptively, and the majority of students, 344 (82.7%), had treated one to five episodes of malaria in the previous 12 months. The ACTs were known to nearly all of the final year clinical students (97.4%). The majority, 289 (69.5%), had no adverse drug reactions with the ACTs. Among those who experienced adverse drug reactions, 23 (39.7%) discontinued their medication, while 2 (3.4%) required hospitalization. The mean cost of the ACT was ₦1263.4 (SD ± 529.6) (₦=Naira) (3.0 USD), with a range of ₦ 300-₦3000 (0.72-7.2 USD). This study demonstrates a high level of acceptance for ACTs, particularly artemether-lumefantrine. However, the adverse effects of ACTs, particularly other recommended ACTs, must be evaluated on a regular basis because they may have an impact on their continued use.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Artemisinin-based combination therapy amongst medical students in the University of Benin, South-South Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Ayinbuomwan

Opadeyi²,

Isah³

2022

Ann Clin Biomed Res

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“…This phenomenon is widespread in countries endemic to malaria which are in most cases countries with very low income. In Africa, cases of self-medication with antimalarials have been reported in several countries such as Nigeria [24], Cameroon [25], Benin [26], Tanzania [27,28], Kenya [29] and, Ethiopia [30]. In DR Congo, very little work has been done on self-medication in the treatment of malaria [31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-medication practices in the management of malaria in the city of Bukavu in Eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo

Valentin¹,

Kasali²,

Philippe³

et al. 2020

World J. Bio. Pharm. Health Sci.

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Self-medication for malaria management is very common in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study was conducted to determine the extent, characteristics and factors associated with this practice in medical area in the city of Bukavu. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out by direct interview between January and June 2018, in the internal medicine department of the General Referral Hospital (GRH) of Bukavu. Graph Pad software was used to analyze the data collected. Seven hundred eighty-five patients were consulted, among them 57.8% (average age 38.7 ± 8 years; average income: 95 ± 12 USD; gender male / female ratio: 0.47) practice self-medication with antimalarials. They used it for the first time at an average age of 6 ± 2 years. Quinine (91.4%) and Artemether-Lumefantrine (60.4%) are the most used antimalarial. Ascorbic acid (98.7%) and Paracetamol (89.2%) are the most medicines associates to antimalarial in self-medication. Several risks are incurred during this practice when the most cited are worsening side effects (53%), incomplete treatment (37%) and the occurence of side effects (37%). Age (31-46 and > 61 years old), low income (50-150 USD), membership in a health sector and the pretension of knowledge of antimalarials, predispose subjects to self-medication. Self-medication with antimalarials is very common in Bukavu. It concerns both biomedicine and traditional medicine. There is an urgent need to regulate this practice to avoid its harmful consequences.

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Awareness of the National Antimalarial Treatment Policy and Malaria Self-care Practices among Medical Students and the Staff of the University of Calabar, Nigeria

Cited by 2 publications

References 12 publications

Artemisinin-based combination therapy amongst medical students in the University of Benin, South-South Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Artemisinin-based combination therapy amongst medical students in the University of Benin, South-South Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Self-medication practices in the management of malaria in the city of Bukavu in Eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo

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