Drug Use Practices and Self-Treatment for Suspected Malaria in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Antimalarial drug failures have been reported anecdotally in Nigeria, and malarial self-treatment practices could be a contributing factor. This study was designed to assess the pattern of drug use practices and self-treatment options among caregivers in Ibadan, Nigeria. We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study among 283 study participant pairs (children under 5 years of age with suspected malaria and their caregivers). Structured questionnaires were used as research instruments. The results indicated that most caregivers were mothers (88.8%), 69% of caregivers self-prescribed and self-managed malaria for children under 5 years old without immediate hospital visits, and 76.4% of the caregivers believed most recommended and available antimalarial drugs were ineffective. Generally, 44.2% of respondents preferred and used antibiotics as a treatment strategy for malaria, 13.2% used agbo (a locally made liquid extract of plants and roots), 12.5% used prayers, and 19.6% used antimalarial drugs. Overall, only 57.1% of respondents stated that they always complete the standard antimalarial dosage regimen. The choice of malaria self-treatment options was significantly linked to the level of education. The findings identified antibiotics, agbo, and prayers as the immediate choices for self-treating malaria disease in Ibadan. Furthermore, incomplete adherence to antimalarial drugs is a general practice in Ibadan. Malaria self-treatment policy and continuous education on antimalarial drug use tailored to the different literacy and education levels of the general public is hereby recommended to reduce the risk of development of parasite resistance to effective anti-malarial drugs.

Knowledge and attitudinal dispositions as factors associated with self-medication in malaria treatment modality among selected parents and child care-givers in Nigeria

“…Regular monitoring of anti-malaria drug efficacy is needed to inform treatment policies in malaria-endemic countries, and to ensure early detection of, and response to, drug resistance (WHO, 2023). Anti-malaria drug failures have been reported anecdotally in Nigeria, and malaria self-treatment practices could be a contributing factor (Oluwayemi et al, 2023).…”

“…In a research conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria, 69% of caregivers self-prescribed and self-managed malaria for children under 5 years old without immediate hospital visits, and 76.4% of the caregivers believed the most recommended and available anti-malaria drugs were ineffective (Oluwayemi et al, 2023). Oluwayemi et al (2023) also found out that, 44.2% of respondents preferred and used antibiotics as a treatment strategy for malaria, 13.2% used agbo (a locally made liquid extract of plants and roots), 12.5% used prayers, 19.6% used anti-malaria drugs and 57.1% of respondents stated that they always complete the standard anti-malaria dosage regimen (Oluwayemi et al, 2023).…”