Self-medication with antimalarial drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Date
1995
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tropical and geographical medicine
Abstract
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using a questionnaire to assess the extent of self-medication with antimalarial drugs and malaria treatment-seeking behaviour among patients attending out-patient treatment at Mnazi mmoja dispensary. It was found that 15.3% of respondents admitted to having ever used malaria chemoprophylaxis while 8.0% reported to be current users of chemoprophylaxis. Among the current users of malaria chemoprophylaxis, some reported having used quinine and Fansidar. While 71.7% reported having treated themselves with home-kept antimalarial drugs for a suspected malaria fever, 14.7% consulted traditional healers. The data suggest the need for increasing public awareness on malaria and appropriate use of antimalarial drugs.
Description
Keywords
Self-medication, Antimalarial drugs, Dar es Salaam
Citation
Mnyika, K.S., Killewo, J.Z. and Kabalimu, T.K., 1995. Self-medication with antimalarial drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tropical and geographical medicine, 47(1), p.32.