Adherence to malaria prophylaxis among travelers from a middle-income country

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 52; p. e20190014
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, Karis Maria de Pinho, Costa, André Bon Fernandes da, Santoro-Lopes, Guilherme
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 01.01.2019; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Adult; Antimalarials - therapeutic use; Doxycycline; Doxycycline - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Malaria; Malaria - drug therapy; Malaria - prevention & control; Male; Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data; Mefloquine; Mefloquine - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - statistics & numerical data; Prophylaxis; Travel; Travel medicine; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Mefloquine; Malaria; Travel medicine; Prophylaxis; Doxycycline
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0014-2019

Malaria is the main cause of death by infection among travelers and is preventable through a combination of chemoprophylaxis and personal protective measures. Travelers were interviewed by phone 28-90 days after returning, to assess adherence to pre-travel advice for malaria prevention. A total 57 travelers were included. Adherence to chemoprophylaxis was significantly higher among participants prescribed mefloquine (n=18; 75%) than doxycycline (n=14; 45%). Adherence to mosquito repellent and bed net use was 65% and 67%, respectively. Adherence to malaria prophylaxis was lower than expected. Further studies testing innovative approaches to motivate travelers' compliance are required.