Drug Prescribing Pattern in Two Hospitals in Mwanza, Northwest Tanzania

Abstract

A retrospective cross-sectional study to evaluate compliance with Tanzanian guidelines, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and various other aspects of drug prescription at Sekou Toure Regional Hospital and Magu Hospital both in Mwanza Region of Tanzania was carried out. In particular, the study was designed to find out whether Tanzania treatment guidelines for malaria, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and diarrhoea were followed. It was aimed at assessing whether prescriptions of antibiotics and injections complied with WHO guidelines. The study analysed 296 prescriptions (108 from Sekou Toure and 188 from Magu Hospitals, respectively) using a structured questionnaire. Results showed generic prescribing was 96.3% at Magu Hospital and 85.2% at Sekou Toure Hospital. Antibiotics prescriptions were 48.4% and 54.6% in Magu and Sekou Toure Hospitals, respectively. In both hospitals, 52.0% of patients treated for malaria were also given antibiotics. For patients treated for URTIs, 39.1% were given antibiotics in addition to other cough remedies. In both hospitals, 72.7% and 15.2% prescriptions for malaria and diarrhoea, respectively, were injections. Fifty percent of prescriptions in both hospitals included injectables and the number of drugs per prescription was four.

Key words: Prescribing pattern, generic and brand drugs, antibiotics, injections