The Attitude of Patients towards the Treatment of Malaria in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Failure of antimalarials in communities is to some extent attributed to the attitude of patients and health providers towards the management of malaria. In this study, the information on the therapy used prior to hospital visit was obtained using a well questionnaire and diagnosis of malaria parasitaemia in patients was carried out using standard parasitological techniques. Out of the 231 subjects, 187 (80.9%) subjects self-administered antimalarials prior to their visit to the hospital. Fifty seven (30.4%) self- administered herbal therapy while 130 (69.5%) did with chloroquine, sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) combination, and artemether medications, 41 (31.5%) of which adhered to the prescribed dosage. The prevalence of Plasmodium parasitaemia was significantly higher in patients who self administered herbal therapy than in those who did with conventional antimalarials at the recommended dosages (P < 0.05). On the other hand, significant higher prevalence of Plasmodium parasitaemia was obtained in subjects who self-administered chloroquine therapy than those who did with other drugs. The study revealed that uncontrolled use of herbal medications and self-prescribed medications are common practices in rural Nigeria.

Keywords: Malaria, antimalarial drugs, self medication, herbal therapy

East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 14 (2011) 95-97