Perception on the Use of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Tablets in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Adult Malaria Patients Residing in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

A prospective study on assessment of perceived efficacy and side effects of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) tablets in two hundred and twenty eight adult malaria patients in Dar es Salaam region was carried out shortly before the drug was introduced as a first line treatment for malaria in Tanzania. Sources and dispensing practices with SP in the private community pharmacies were also assessed. The study revealed that 80.3% of the patients were relieved from malaria symptoms and 19.7% did not feel any relief after using the drug. Further, the results showed that 39.5% of the patients did not experience side effects while 60.5% experienced them. Among the affected respondents 25.4% suffered from body malaise, 21.0% had diarrhoea, and 29.7% experienced nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, 17.4% suffered headache and abdominal discomfort and 6.5% experienced inflammation of the lips. The results revealed that 60% of the patients obtained SP drugs from private community pharmacies without prescriptions while 40% obtained the drug with prescriptions. 83.2% of the patients obtained SP from them community pharmacies, 13.9% from government hospital pharmacies and 2.9% from home leftover medicine reserves.


(E & C Afr Jnl Pharm Sci: 2002 5(1): 19-22)