Authors :
Rachel Unekwu Odesanya; Godwin Atibili; Dorcas Lohdip; Danlami Wetkos Dayom; Noel Nenman Wannang
Volume/Issue :
Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 2 - February
Google Scholar :
http://bitly.ws/gu88
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3skCceC
Abstract :
Malaria in pregnancy is a huge burden and the
World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended
the use of artemisinin-combination therapy in its
treatment. This study aim to assess the prescription
pattern of antimalarial among pregnant women in Jos.
Method: The study was conducted at the antenatal clinic
of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Bingham University
Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist hospital,
all in Jos. The study was a descriptive prospective design
from 2018 to 2019. All pregnant women who visited the
antenatal clinic and were prescribed antimalarial were
included in the study. Sample size was 392 and
participants were selected using a systemic random
sampling method. There were two groups: One being the
women who were treated for malaria and the other group
was those who had no malaria and used only
sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for prophylaxis during this
current pregnancy. The data was analyzed as descriptive
statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences
version 23. Results: The antimalarial prescription pattern
in pregnancy was assessed and majority of the
participants (44.1%) were between 20-29 years (modal
age). Most of the participants (24.7%) had tertiary
education and (99.2%) were married, 44.1% were
Primigravidae while 55.9% were Multigravidae. Our
study revealed that artemether-lumefantrine (AL)
combination was mostly used (55.9%) for the treatment
of malaria in pregnancy. Conclusion: An evaluation of the
antimalarial drug prescription pattern will promote the
availability of the needed medicines for the prophylaxis
and treatment of malaria in pregnancy and ultimately
enhance rational use and safety of these medicines.
Keywords :
Antimalarial, Artemether-lumefantrine, prescription pattern, Nigeria
Malaria in pregnancy is a huge burden and the
World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended
the use of artemisinin-combination therapy in its
treatment. This study aim to assess the prescription
pattern of antimalarial among pregnant women in Jos.
Method: The study was conducted at the antenatal clinic
of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Bingham University
Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist hospital,
all in Jos. The study was a descriptive prospective design
from 2018 to 2019. All pregnant women who visited the
antenatal clinic and were prescribed antimalarial were
included in the study. Sample size was 392 and
participants were selected using a systemic random
sampling method. There were two groups: One being the
women who were treated for malaria and the other group
was those who had no malaria and used only
sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for prophylaxis during this
current pregnancy. The data was analyzed as descriptive
statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences
version 23. Results: The antimalarial prescription pattern
in pregnancy was assessed and majority of the
participants (44.1%) were between 20-29 years (modal
age). Most of the participants (24.7%) had tertiary
education and (99.2%) were married, 44.1% were
Primigravidae while 55.9% were Multigravidae. Our
study revealed that artemether-lumefantrine (AL)
combination was mostly used (55.9%) for the treatment
of malaria in pregnancy. Conclusion: An evaluation of the
antimalarial drug prescription pattern will promote the
availability of the needed medicines for the prophylaxis
and treatment of malaria in pregnancy and ultimately
enhance rational use and safety of these medicines.
Keywords :
Antimalarial, Artemether-lumefantrine, prescription pattern, Nigeria
