Knowledge and practices of private pharmacy auxiliaries on malaria in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Valérie A. Bedia-Tanoh, Étienne K. Angora, Sebastien A. J. Miezan, Estelle D. M. Koné-Bravo, Abibatou Konaté-Touré, Henriette Bosson-Vanga, Fulgence K. Kassi, Pulchérie C. M. Kiki-Barro, Vincent Djohan, Hervé E. I. Menan, William Yavo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2023
• Subjects: Pharmacy auxiliaries; Practices; Knowledge; Malaria; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04751-8; https://doaj.org/article/8c717a888d4641048293e0fdf1e9cabf

Abstract Background The emergence of resistance to artemisinin derivatives in Southeast Asia constitutes a serious threat for other malaria endemic areas, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire. To delay this resistance, the application of the control measures recommended by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) for a correct management, in the private pharmacies, is a necessity. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to assess the level of knowledge and practices of private pharmacy auxiliary in Abidjan about the management of malaria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to November 2015. It included auxiliaries of private pharmacies in Abidjan. Data collection material was a structured an open pretested questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 21.1. Chi square test was used to compare proportions for a significance threshold of 0.05 for the p value. Results A total, 447 auxiliaries from 163 private pharmacies were interviewed. It was noted that the auxiliaries had a good knowledge of clinical signs of uncomplicated malaria (99.1%), biological examinations (54.6% for the thick film and 40.7% for rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and anti-malarial drugs (99.3% for artemether + lumefantrine, AL). The strategies of vector control (long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLITNs, Repellent ointments, cleaning gutters, elimination of larvae breeding site and intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in pregnant women were also known by the auxiliaries, respectively 99.8% and 77.4%. However, the malaria pathogen (25.1%) and the NMCP recommendations (e.g. use of AL or AS + AQ as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria and IPTp-SP in pregnant women) were not well known by the auxiliaries (28.2% and 26.9% for uncomplicated and severe malaria). Concerning the practices of the auxiliaries, 91.1% offered anti-malarial drugs to patients without a prescription and 47.3% mentioned ...