Prescribing trend of antimalarial drugs at the Ghana Police Hospital

Authors

  • Daniel Kwame Afriyie Ghana Police Hospital, Pharmacy Department, Accra, Ghana
  • Seth Kwabena Amponsah University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Ghana
  • Robert Antwi Ghana Police Hospital, Pharmacy Department, Accra, Ghana
  • Stephen Yayra Nyoagbe Ghana Police Hospital, Pharmacy Department, Accra, Ghana
  • Kwasi Agyei Bugyei University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.5578

Keywords:

malaria, antimalarial drug, prescription, essential drug list

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria ranks among the top three leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Appropriate use of recommended antimalarial drugs is vital in the effective management of malaria.

Methodology: This study sought to assess the prescribing trend of antimalarial drugs at the Ghana Police Hospital. Antimalarial drug prescribing trends from 3,127 patient cards were assessed at the pharmacy unit of the hospital between December 2012 and May 2013 using modified World Health Organization rational drug prescribing indicators.

Results: Of the 6,697 drugs assessed from the patient cards, antimalarial drugs prescribed included artemether-lumefantrine, 4,226 (63.1%), artemether injection with artemether-lumefantrine tablets, 1,741 (26%), artesunate injection, 241 (3.6%), artemether injection, 194 (2.9%), and artesunate-amodiaquine tablets, 188 (2.8%). The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.1. A total of 4,052 (60.5%) drugs were prescribed by their generic names, and 2,645 (39.5%) were prescribed by their brand names. There were 2,250 (33.6%) encounters with injection (33.6%), and 6,001 (89.6%) of the prescribed drugs were from the essential drugs list. Prescriptions conforming to recommended dosage regimen totaled 6,328 (94.5%).

Conclusion: The antimalarial prescribing pattern at the hospital was generally satisfactory. However, the use of injectable antimalarials appeared to be high.

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Published

2015-04-15

How to Cite

1.
Afriyie DK, Amponsah SK, Antwi R, Nyoagbe SY, Bugyei KA (2015) Prescribing trend of antimalarial drugs at the Ghana Police Hospital. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:409–415. doi: 10.3855/jidc.5578

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Section

Original Articles