EVALUATION OF DRUG THERAPY PROBLEMS IN TREATMENT OF UNCOMPLICATED MALARIA AMONG PAEDIATRIC OUTPATIENTS AT A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Authors

  • H. Y. S. Adamu Department of Pharmaceutical Services, National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna
  • S. Aliyu Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • B.B. Maiha Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • A.T. Mora Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Igbinedion University, Okada

Keywords:

Drug therapy problems, Paediatric, uncomplicated malaria, Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE)

Abstract

A drug-related problem (DRP) is an event or circumstance involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interferes
with the desired health outcome. The paediatric population is easily affected by DRPs. This study aimed to evaluate
Drug Therapy Problems (DTP) in prescriptions of children under 5 years with uncomplicated malaria at paediatric
outpatient pharmacy of a Tertiary hospital in Kaduna state. Data were prospectively collected using the method
adopted from the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) version 8.02 from eligible patients' prescriptions
attended the facility between the months of November 2018 and March 2019. The results showed that the majority of
the patients (78.9%) were between the ages of 0 – 24 months, with half of them being males (53.7%). DTPs were found
in 90.9% of prescriptions, with a higher percentage (79.9%) in infants aged 3 – 24 months. In conclusion, the study
established that drug therapy problems were common among paediatric patients treated for uncomplicated malaria in
Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Nigeria which was mostly due to incorrect prescription of ACT as a result of dose
selection problem.

Downloads

Published

2024-03-22

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Articles