Knowledge and practice among health workers from the Thiès region with regard to new malaria treatment policies

• Published in: Santé publique (Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France) Vol. 18; no. 2; p. 299
• Main Authors: Souares, A, Lalou, R, Sene, I, Sow, D, Le Hesran, J Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.06.2006
• Subjects: Amodiaquine - administration & dosage; Antimalarials - administration & dosage; Antimalarials - therapeutic use; Chloroquine - therapeutic use; Clinical Competence; Community Health Services - manpower; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance; Education, Nursing; Guideline Adherence; Health Personnel - education; Health Policy; Health Promotion; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum - drug therapy; Patient Education as Topic; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pyrimethamine - administration & dosage; Rural Health Services - manpower; Senegal; Sulfadoxine - administration & dosage; Senegal
• ISSN: 0995-3914

The emergence of increasing plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine in Africa has prompted national malaria programmes to develop new policies regarding appropriate and essential treatment, moving from the use of chloroquine to a new set of bi-therapy methods. In Senegal, the malaria treatment policy has shifted from chloroquine to amodiaquine/sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. The authors studied the availability of these new drugs and their use by the care providers in 10 rural health district dispensaries. Patient records were examined and nurses were interviewed on their knowledge about and implementation of the new policy. It was noted that the nurses have not yet mastered the proper use of these new medications, and the prescriptions given were not always in line with regulations and practice corresponding to the required or necessary doses. The families which were interviewed stated that they were not aware of the changes in treatment which had been recommended. The conclusion of this study was that it brought to the forefront the need to put specific emphasis on population information and awareness campaigns as well as that of ensuring that caregivers receive thorough training to secure the successful and sustainable implementation and maintenance of the new policy.