Abstract

PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS IN ADULTS AT UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT TEACHING HOSPITAL, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Bagbi B. M.* and Alagala M. B.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Malaria is a major public health problem and is still accounting for increased morbidity and mortality when not properly treated. It is caused by species of the parasite, Plasmodium of which P.falciparum is mostly implicated. The disease burden is still very high in Nigeria where it accounts for more cases and deaths than any other country in the world. Objective: To assess the prescription pattern of antimalarials in adults at the Outpatient Department of University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Method: Prescription pattern of antimalarial drugs was carried out in adults at University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital with collection of data from Medical records of 269 case notes of malaria patients from 18 years and above, which were sorted out and the antimalarial prescriptions selected from the records for a period of four years (January 2016 - September 2019). Essential data collected were age, type of anti-malarial prescribed. Descriptive statistics was used for the analysis. Results: The result showed that Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies was the most frequently prescribed antimalarial with Arthemeter/Lumefantrine having a prescription frequency of 194 (72.1%) followed by Dihydroartemisinin/Piperaquine 46(17.1%) and Artesunate/Mefloquine 13 (4.8%). The non-ACT prescribed were Sulphadoxine /Pyrimethamine 10 (3.7%), Artesunate 4 (1.5%) and Proguanil 2 (0.7%). Conclusion: Artemisinin-based combination therapies were most frequently prescribed as antimalarial drug among adults. This indicates adherence to WHO 2015 Guideline on the prescription of anti-malarial medications for uncomplicated malaria. Percentage of drug prescribed using generic names was lower compared to the WHO standard.

Keywords: Prescription pattern, Antimalarial, Artemisinine-based Combination Therapies.