Malaria treatment-seeking behaviour and drug prescription practices in an area of low transmission in Uganda: implications for prevention and control

TY - JOUR

T1 - Malaria treatment-seeking behaviour and drug prescription practices in an area of low transmission in Uganda

T2 - implications for prevention and control

AU - Ndyomugyenyi, Richard

AU - Magnussen, Pascal

AU - Clarke, Siân

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Knowledge of malaria and treatment-seeking behaviour was investigated in an area of low transmission in Uganda to help health services to plan for appropriate interventions to control malaria. Although knowledge of malaria symptoms, preventive methods and malaria risks was widespread, few were actually using insecticide-treated nets. Many patients (25%) had received treatment prior to visiting a health facility, with drug shops and general stores being the main sources of treatment. Some shops dispensed quinine, a second-line drug recommended for complicated malaria. Prescription practices of health staff often did not comply with guidelines. Only 30% of patients received treatment at a health facility within 24h of onset of symptoms. Findings indicate a need for community-level information campaigns on prompt treatment and introduction of home-based management of fever. Measures are needed to protect second-line drugs from misuse. Failure to comply with drug policy in both the private and public sectors is of concern in an era of rapidly evolving drug policy changes and highlights the need for reorientation and training of health staff and drug vendors to improve malaria diagnostic and treatment skills.

AB - Knowledge of malaria and treatment-seeking behaviour was investigated in an area of low transmission in Uganda to help health services to plan for appropriate interventions to control malaria. Although knowledge of malaria symptoms, preventive methods and malaria risks was widespread, few were actually using insecticide-treated nets. Many patients (25%) had received treatment prior to visiting a health facility, with drug shops and general stores being the main sources of treatment. Some shops dispensed quinine, a second-line drug recommended for complicated malaria. Prescription practices of health staff often did not comply with guidelines. Only 30% of patients received treatment at a health facility within 24h of onset of symptoms. Findings indicate a need for community-level information campaigns on prompt treatment and introduction of home-based management of fever. Measures are needed to protect second-line drugs from misuse. Failure to comply with drug policy in both the private and public sectors is of concern in an era of rapidly evolving drug policy changes and highlights the need for reorientation and training of health staff and drug vendors to improve malaria diagnostic and treatment skills.

U2 - 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.06.004

DO - 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.06.004

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16950487

SN - 0035-9203

VL - 101

SP - 209

EP - 215

JO - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

JF - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

IS - 3

ER -