Health-care providers’ preparedness for H1N1/09 influenza prevention and treatment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Kamuhabwa, Appolinary; Chavda, Reena

doi:10.3855/jidc.1635

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These findings are in agreement with the results of the present study, in which antibiotics were found to be prescribed without an indication of bacterial infection as the cause of fever. The shortage of qualified health care workers,10 inadequate laboratory facilities,22 and lack of continuing education for health care workers are among the reasons for irrational prescribing in public health facilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge among drug dispensers and antimalarial drug prescribing practices in public health facilities in Dar es Salaam

Kamuhabwa¹,

Silumbe²

2013

DHPS

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BackgroundIrrational prescribing and dispensing of antimalarials has been identified as a contributing factor in the emergence of malaria parasites resistant to existing antimalarial drugs. Factors that contribute to such irrational prescribing and dispensing should therefore be identified to address this problem. The aim of this study was to assess irrational antimalarial drug dispensing and prescribing practices in public health facilities.MethodsA descriptive-retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2011 in order to assess prescribing and dispensing practices for antimalarial drugs in three public hospitals and nine health centers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Thirty-two drug dispensers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A total of 4,320 prescriptions for the period January to December 2010 were collected and assessed for antimalarial drug prescribing patterns.ResultsThe majority (84.6%) of drug dispensers had poor knowledge regarding the basic information required from patients before dispensing artemether-lumefantrine. Seventeen of 32 drug dispensers did not know the basic information that should be given to patients in order to increase absorption of artemether-lumefantrine after oral intake. Most drug dispensers also showed limited knowledge about the dosage and contraindications for artemether-lumefantrine. Eighty-seven percent of all prescriptions contained artemether-lumefantrine as the only antimalarial drug, 77.1% contained at least one analgesic, and 26.9% contained at least one antibiotic, indicating unnecessary use of analgesics and antibiotics with antimalarial drugs. A substantial number of prescriptions contained antimalarial drugs that have already been declared ineffective for the treatment of malaria in Tanzania, providing additional evidence of inadequate knowledge among health care workers concerning treatment policy.ConclusionDespite the government’s efforts to increase public awareness regarding use of artemether-lumefantrine as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, there is still irrational prescribing, dispensing, and use of this combination. Based on the results of this study, it is proposed that regular on-the-job training and continuing education be provided to drug dispensers and prescribers in public health facilities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge among drug dispensers and antimalarial drug prescribing practices in public health facilities in Dar es Salaam

Kamuhabwa¹,

Silumbe²

2013

DHPS

Self Cite

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“…The delay in application of prevention and treatment of the infectious disease may participate to widespread of the epidemic [8]. We need rigorous application of traditional public health measures to limit the transmission of COVID-19 disease especially with the absence of vaccines and antivirals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perception and practice of social distancing among Egyptians in COVID-19 pandemic

Bakry

Waly

2020

J Infect Dev Ctries

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Introduction: Social distancing is principally intended to reduce infectious disease transmission by decreasing interactions among people in a broader community. Keeping social distancing is an essential public health measure to resist the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: a cross sectional study was conducted among 1,036 Egyptians using an online questionnaire between 5 and 10 May 2020. Results: There was significant association between the practice of social distancing and some sociodemographic factors as sex, age, education, working status, and place of residence at p value < 0.001 and with community of residence at p value 0.021. Conclusions: Egyptians had good perception for social distancing to prevent transmission of COVID 19, but they were not strictly practicing it.

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“…Nothwithstanding recent outbreaks show how difficult this could it be, even with good health care systems. However, initially delay in recognising and the lack of knowledge on transmission, prevention, and treatment of the infectious disease may contribute to widespread of the epidemic/outbreak [23]. Europe and SEE countries faced these shortcomings, too.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is approaching its peak, apart from the problem of not known specific treatment of the disease and care for critically ill patients, there is another equally important problem -procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) for HCWs. The PPE is absolutely necessary to protect HCWs, as well as patients themselves [7,23,24,[33][34][35][36][37]. However, the exact profile will be more obvious by the end of the pandemic since numbers of cases are still increasing.…”

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confidence: 99%

Short epidemiological overview of the current situation on COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast European (SEE) countries

Puca

Čivljak

Arapović

et al. 2020

J Infect Dev Ctries

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We are living in times where a viral disease has brought normal life in much of the world to a halt. The novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China initially and in a short time crossed the European borders. After mitigating the epidemic in China, Italy became one of the most COVID-19 affected countries worldwide. International travelers are important sources of infectious diseases and a possible source of epidemic. Due to its political, geographic, and cultural similarities, Italy is one of the main economic partners of Southeast European (SEE) countries. Our data show that infection in index cases in all 11 SEE countries was travel-related with Italy being a source country for 8/11 countries. After the first case identifications on February 25, the number of cases in SEE countries is continually rising reaching the total number of 15,612 with 565 fatal cases and overall case fatality ratio (CFR) of 3.6 (median 3.8, range 0.8–5.5) by April 10, 2020. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is approaching its peak, apart from the problems with treatment of the disease and care for critically ill patients, there are other equally important problems, such as organization of outbreak response, provision of health care, lack of hospital personnel, disruption of personal protective equipment supply chains and health care workers (HCWs) protection. But what is more important is the heroic behavior of the HCWs who are showing their humanity by disregarding their lives.

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Health-care providers’ preparedness for H1N1/09 influenza prevention and treatment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Cited by 5 publications

References 16 publications

Knowledge among drug dispensers and antimalarial drug prescribing practices in public health facilities in Dar es Salaam

Knowledge among drug dispensers and antimalarial drug prescribing practices in public health facilities in Dar es Salaam

Perception and practice of social distancing among Egyptians in COVID-19 pandemic

Short epidemiological overview of the current situation on COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast European (SEE) countries

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