Brian O Ogbonna

Drugs use pattern for uncomplicated malaria in medicine retail outlets in Enugu urban, southeast Nigeria: implications for malaria treatment policy

BackgroundMalaria treatment policy recommends regular monitoring of drug utilization to generate information for ensuring effective use of anti-malarial drugs in Nigeria. This information is currently limited in the retail sector which constitutes a major source of malaria treatment in Nigeria, but are characterized by significant inappropriate use of drugs. This study analyzed the use pattern of anti-malarial drugs in medicine outlets to assess the current state of compliance to policy on the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).MethodsA prospective cross-sectional survey of randomly selected medicine outlets in Enugu urban, southeast Nigeria, was conducted between May and August 2013, to determine the types, range, prices, and use pattern of anti-malarial drugs dispensed from pharmacies and patent medicine vendors (PMVs). Data were collected and analyzed for anti-malarial drugs dispensed for self-medication to patients, treatment by retail outlets and prescription from hospitals.ResultsA total of 1,321 anti-malarial drugs prescriptions were analyzed. ACT accounted for 72.7%, while monotherapy was 27.3%. Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) drugs contributed 33.9% (326/961) of ACT. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL), 668 (50.6%) was the most used anti-malarial drug, followed by monotherapy sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), 248 (18.8%). Median cost of ACT at

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of antibiotics in non-bloody diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa

2.91 (

Limitations to the dynamics of pharmaceutical care practice among community pharmacists in Enugu urban, southeast Nigeria

0.65-7.42) per dose, is about three times the median cost of monotherapy,

Health-Care Workers' Occupational Exposures to Body Fluids in 21 Countries in Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis/Exposition Professionnelle Des Agents De Sante Aux Liquides Organiques Dans 21 Pays Africains: Revue Systematique et Meta-analyse/Exposicion a Fluidos Corporales De Los Profesionales Sanitarios De 21 Paises De Africa: Revision Sistematica Y Meta-Analisis

0.97 (

Pattern Of Anti-Infective Drugs Use In A Tertiary Healthcare Facility In Nigeria

0.19-13.55). Total cost of medication (including co-medications) with ACT averaged

Adherence to Anti-Convulsant Therapy Among Ambulatory Epileptic Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

3.64 (95% CI;

Effect Of Pharmaceutical Care Intervention On Well-Being Index Of Type 2 Diabetes Outpatients In A Tertiary Hospital In Southeast Nigeria

3.53-3.75) per prescription, about twice the mean cost of treatment with monotherapy,

Drug Utilization in a Cardiology Unit of a Referral Hospital in Nigeria

1.83 (95% CI;

Effects Of Availability Of Essential Medicines List On Sellected Domains Of Pharmacy Services In A National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Accredited Pharmacy Of A University Teaching Hospital In Nigeria; An Intervention Study

1.57-2.1). Highest proportion 46.5% (614), of the anti-malarial drugs was dispensed to patients for self-treatment. Treatment by retail outlets accounted for 35.8% while 17.7% of the drugs were dispensed from hospital prescriptions. Self-medication, 82%, accounted for the highest source of monotherapy and a majority of prescriptions, 85.6%, was adults.ConclusionFindings suggest vastly improved use of ACT in the retail sector after eight years of policy change, with significant contributions from AMFm drugs. However the use of monotherapy, particularly through self-medication remains significant with increasing risk of undermining treatment policy, suggesting additional measures to directly target consumers and providers in the sector for improved use of anti-malarial drugs in Nigeria.

Health-care workers’ occupational exposures to body fluids in 21 countries in Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives To estimate the prevalence and determine the factors associated with the use of antibiotics in the management of non-bloody diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods We conducted a meta-analysis of demographic and health survey data sets from 30 countries in SSA. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using random effects model. Χ2 tests were employed to determine the factors associated with the antibiotic use. Results The pooled prevalence of antibiotic use among cases of non-bloody diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age was 23.1% (95% CI 19.5 to 26.7). The use of antibiotics in children with non-bloody diarrhoea in SSA was associated with (p<0.05) the source of care, place of residence, wealth index, maternal education and breastfeeding status. Conclusion We found an unacceptably high use of antibiotics to treat episodes of non-bloody diarrhoea in children under the age of 5 in SSA.