SELF-MEDICATION WITH ANTI-MALARIAL MEDICINES AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i8.17058Keywords:
Malaria, Self-medication, Anti-malarial medicines, Prevalence, Knowledge, High school students, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication with anti-malarial medicines among high school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and to assess their knowledge on malaria and the dangers of self-medication.
Methods: A pre-tested questionnaire was used in data collection. Data obtained include demographic characteristics, use of anti-malarial medicines without prescription in the past six months, knowledge on malaria, knowledge on the dangers of self-medication, type of anti-malarial used for self-medication, the source of medicine and reasons for self-medication. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis was undertaken and the chi-square test was used to test significant differences in proportions between the different variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: A total of 400 students were enrolled in the study. The frequency of anti-malarial self-medication by high school students in Dar es Salaam was 18.5%. The overall students' level of knowledge on malaria and on the dangers of self-medication was low (73.0%). Artemether/lumefantrine and malafin® tablets were the most frequently used medicines for self-medication with a prevalence of 45.9% and 38.5% respectively. Past experience in treating similar disease, lack of money and easy access to anti-malarial medicine emerged as the main factors influencing their self-medication practice.
Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication with anti-malarial medicines by high school students is relatively high given the low prevalence of malaria in Dar es Salaam. The students demonstrated a low knowledge on malaria and on the dangers of self-medication.
Downloads
References
World Health Organization. WHO | Fact Sheet: World Malaria Report; 2016.
Jain S. Concept of self-medication: a review. Int J Pharm Biol Arch 2011;2:831–6.
Awosusi AO, Konwea PE. Self-medication practice among secondary school students in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. J Adv Med Pharm Sci 2015;3:61–8.
Osemene KP, Lamikanra A. A study of the prevalence of self-medication practice among university students in southwestern Nigeria. Trop J Pharm Res 2012;11:683–9.
Agueh V, Badet M, Jerome C, Paraiso M, Azandjeme C, Metonnou C, et al. Prevalence and determinants of antimalarial self-medication in Southern Benin. Int J Trop Dis Heal 2016;18:1–11.
Mumtaz Y, Ashraf Jahangeer SM, Mujtaba T, Zafar S, Adnan S. Self medication among university students of Karachi. J Liaquat Univ Med Heal Sci 2011;10:102–5.
Aditya S, Rattan A. Self-medication among dental undergraduate students with antibiotics: looking beyond the known. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2013;6:132–5.
Chipwaza B, Mugasa JP, Mayumana I, Amuri M, Makungu C, Gwakisa PS. Self-medication with antimalarials is a common practice in rural communities of Kilosa district in Tanzania despite the reported decline of malaria. Malar J 2014;13:1–11.
Minzi OM, Buma D, Kagashe GA. Self-initiation of antiretroviral therapy in the developing world: the involvement of private pharmacies in an HIV program. Drug Healthc Patient Saf 2012;4:27–31.
Mnyika KS, Killewo JZ, Kabalimu TK. Self-medication with antimalarial drugs in dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Trop Geogr Med 1995;47:32–4.
Nsimba SED, Rimoy GH. Self-medication with chloroquine in a rural district of Tanzania: a therapeutic challenge for any future malaria treatment policy change in the country. J Clin Pharm Ther 2005;30:515–9.
Awad A, Eltayeb I, Matowe L, Thalib L. Self-medication with antibiotics and antimalarials in the community of Khartoum State, Sudan. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2005;8:326–31.
Brata C, Fisher C, Marjadi B, Schneider CR, Clifford RM. Factors influencing the current practice of self-medication consultations in Eastern Indonesian community pharmacies: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 2016;16:179.
Ocan M, Bwanga F, Bbosa GS, Bagenda D, Waako P, Ogwal-Okeng J, et al. Patterns and predictors of self-medication in northern uganda. PLoS One 2014;21:9.
Shaghaghi A, Asadi M, Allahverdipour H. Predictors of self-medication behavior: a systematic review. Vol. 43. Iranian J Public Health; 2014. p. 136–46.
Tacaids Z, Ocgs, Icf N. HIV/AIDS and malaria indicator survey 2011/12. tanzania. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Tanzania; 2013.
Wang SJ, Lengeler C, Mtasiwa D, Mshana T, Manane L, Maro G, et al. Rapid urban malaria appraisal (RUMA) II: epidemiology of urban malaria in dar es salaam (Tanzania). Malar J 2006;5:28.
White NJ, Pongtavornpinyo W, Maude RJ, Saralamba S, Aguas R, Stepniewska K, et al. Hyperparasitaemia and low dosing are an important source of anti-malarial drug resistance. Malar J 2009;8:253.
Premji Z, Minjas JN, Shiff CJ. Chloroquine resistant plasmodium falciparum in coastal tanzania. A challenge to the continued strategy of village based chemotherapy for malaria control. Trop Med Parasitol 1994;45:47–8.
Mbugi EV, Mutayoba BM, Malisa AL, Balthazary ST, Nyambo TB, Mshinda H. Drug resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Mlimba, Tanzania. Malar J 2006;5:94.
Gesase S, Gosling RD, Hashim R, Ord R, Naldoo I, Madebe R, et al. High resistance of plasmodium falciparum to sulphadoxine/ pyrimethamine in Northern Tanzania and the emergence of dhps resistance mutation at codon 581. PLoS One 2009;24:4.
Nwanyanwu OC, Kumwenda N, Kazembe PN, Jemu S, Ziba C, Nkhoma WC, et al. Malaria and human immunodeficiency virus infection among male employees of a sugar estate in Malawi. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1997;91:567–9.
Gupta P, Bobhate PS, Shrivastava SR. Determinants of self-medication practices in an urban slum community. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2011;4:54–7.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
