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Prácticas administrativas de profesionales sanitarios y uso del artesunato‐amodiaquina por parte de miembros de la comunidad para tratar malaria no complicada en el sur de Ghana: implicaciones del despliegue del tratamiento combinado con artemisinina
Author(s) -
KwansaBentum Bethel,
Ayi Irene,
Suzuki Takashi,
Otchere Joseph,
Kumagai Takashi,
Anyan William K.,
Asahi Hiroko,
Akao Nobuaki,
Wilson Michael D.,
Boakye Daniel A.,
Ohta Nobuo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02833.x
Subject(s) - artesunate , amodiaquine , artemisinin , malaria , medicine , artemether , dihydroartemisinin , lumefantrine , pharmacy , medical prescription , family medicine , environmental health , traditional medicine , chloroquine , pharmacology , plasmodium falciparum , immunology
Summary Objective To investigate the use of artemisinin‐based combination and monotherapy by community members and the administrative practices of health professionals in treating malaria in Ghana. Method This study is a community‐based cross‐sectional survey in 11 rural and urban areas in southern Ghana. Using the interviewer method, close‐ended questionnaires were administered to community members. Similar questionnaires were also administered in health facilities, community pharmacies and licensed chemical shops. Results A total of 1085 individuals comprising 959 non‐health professionals and 126 health professionals were interviewed. Fifty‐seven per cent of the community members visit pharmacies/drug stores as the first point of call when they suspect malaria. According to the participating drug sellers, artemether–lumefantrine (AL) is the most prescribed/sold anti‐malarial drug (59.2%), followed by dihydroartemisinin (35%), sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (33.0%) and artesunate‐amodiaquine (AS‐AQ) (27.2%). The majority of customers who visit pharmacies or drug stores without prescription have their anti‐malarial drug selected by the shop attendant; in situations like that, dihydroartemisinin and artesunate monotherapies are sold just as AS‐AQ and AL. Chloroquine is still sold by some drug vendors, 5 years after its proscription. Conclusion Whereas the use of AS‐AQ and AL are acceptable, the frequent use of dihydroartemisinin and artesunate monotherapy threatens the future of ACTs.