Authors : Muhammad Tukur Umar, Aminu Chika and Abdulgafar O. Jimoh
Abstract: This study assess the level of compliance to prescription of ACT in treatment of uncomplicated malaria among primary health care providers as recommended by WHO in the study area so as to identify likely encountered problems and offer dependable solutions to enhance better management of uncomplicated malaria cases at this level of health care. Fifteen primary health care facilities were selected by multi-stage randomly sampling, five in each of the three senatorial zones. Only health personnel that prescribe drugs in a health facility were recruited in the study. Data on demographic profiles, diagnosis of malaria, first line drugs for uncomplicated malaria, awareness on ACT, availability and cost were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The data in this study revealed that 40% of all anti-malaria prescribed was ACT as first line for uncomplicated malaria. Chloroquine ranked second, use of inefficient combination and artemesinin based monotherapy were also common. Only 12% of pregnant women at first trimester had appropriate prescription and awareness of the respondents on ACT was generally poor. The pattern of anti-malaria prescription in these centres was more on the basis of availability of ACT made through donation than on the recommendation by WHO and National Policy on Malaria treatment. There was need to improve the awareness of ACT in this cadre of health care providers through seminars and workshops.
Muhammad Tukur Umar, Aminu Chika and Abdulgafar O. Jimoh, 2011. Compliance of Primary Health Care Providers to Recommendation of Artemesinin-Based Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Selected Primary Health Care Centres in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 6: 70-72.