Presumptive Treatment of Malaria from Formal and Informal Drug Vendors in Nigeria
Chinwoke Isiguzo, Jennifer Anyanti, Chinazo Ujuju, Ernest Nwokolo, Anna De La Cruz, Eric Schatzkin, Sepideh Modrek, Dominic Montagu, Jenny Liu
Published: October 21, 2014
Despite policies that recommend parasitological testing before treatment for malaria, presumptive treatment remains widespread in Nigeria. This study seeks to (1) describe the profile of patients who seek treatment at different types of drug outlets, (2) document the types of drugs purchased for treating malaria, (3) assess which patients are purchasing recommended drugs, and (4) estimate the extent of malaria over-treatment. Poorer individuals seeking care at PPMVs were more likely to receive inappropriate malaria treatment when compared to those who go to pharmacies. Increasing accessibility to reliable diagnosis should be explored to reduce malaria over-treatment. Read the publication here.
