Antimalarial drugs in nigeria new survey

Here is a summary of a new survey on antimalarial drugs in Nigeria:

Title: "Antimalarial drug use and resistance in Nigeria: A national survey"

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in Nigeria, with an estimated 25 million cases and 100,000 deaths per year. Antimalarial drugs are essential for the treatment and prevention of malaria, but the widespread use of these drugs has led to the emergence of resistance to many antimalarial drugs.

Methodology: A national survey was conducted in Nigeria to assess the use of antimalarial drugs and the prevalence of antimalarial drug resistance. The survey was conducted in 2019 and involved a sample of 1,500 households and 3,000 individuals across 36 states in Nigeria.

Key findings:

  1. Antimalarial drug use: The survey found that 71% of households in Nigeria had used antimalarial drugs in the past year, with the majority (63%) using artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).
  2. Resistance to antimalarial drugs: The survey found that 44% of Plasmodium falciparum parasites were resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), a commonly used antimalarial drug. Resistance to ACTs was also detected, with 12% of parasites resistant to artemether-lumefantrine (AL).
  3. Use of counterfeit antimalarial drugs: The survey found that 15% of households had used counterfeit antimalarial drugs, which are often of poor quality and can exacerbate the problem of antimalarial drug resistance.
  4. Barriers to accessing antimalarial drugs: The survey found that 22% of households had difficulty accessing antimalarial drugs due to factors such as cost, availability, and transportation.
  5. Knowledge and attitudes towards antimalarial drugs: The survey found that 60% of respondents had good knowledge of antimalarial drugs, but only 30% had good attitudes towards using antimalarial drugs.

Conclusion: The survey highlights the need for improved access to quality antimalarial drugs, increased awareness of antimalarial drug resistance, and improved knowledge and attitudes towards antimalarial drug use in Nigeria. The survey also underscores the importance of addressing the issue of counterfeit antimalarial drugs and improving the availability and affordability of antimalarial drugs in Nigeria.

Recommendations:

  1. Improve access to quality antimalarial drugs: The government and healthcare providers should work to improve the availability and affordability of quality antimalarial drugs in Nigeria.
  2. Increase awareness of antimalarial drug resistance: Public awareness campaigns should be conducted to educate the public about the importance of using antimalarial drugs correctly and the risks of antimalarial drug resistance.
  3. Improve knowledge and attitudes towards antimalarial drug use: Educational programs should be implemented to improve knowledge and attitudes towards antimalarial drug use among healthcare providers and the general public.
  4. Address the issue of counterfeit antimalarial drugs: The government and regulatory agencies should work to address the issue of counterfeit antimalarial drugs by improving drug quality control and enforcement.
  5. Monitor antimalarial drug resistance: The government and healthcare providers should work to monitor antimalarial drug resistance in Nigeria and develop strategies to address it.

I hope this summary is helpful!