Perception on the Use of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Tablets in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Adult Malaria Patients Residing in Dar es Salaam

V Mugoyela; R David; O M S Minzi

V Mugoyela Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS), P. 0 Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
R David Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS), P. 0 Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
O M S Minzi Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.0 Box 6501 0, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Keywords: Malaria, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), perception, effectiveness

Abstract

A prospective study on assessment of perceived efficacy and side effects of
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) tablets in two hundred and twenty eight adult
malaria patients in Dar es Salaam region was carried out shortly before the drug
was introduced as a first line treatment for malaria in Tanzania. Sources and
dispensing practices with SP in the private community pharmacies were also
assessed. The study revealed that 80.3% of the patients were relieved from malaria
symptoms and 19.7% did not feel any relief after using the drug. Further, the
results showed that 39.5% of the patients did not experience side effects while
60.5% experienced them. Among the affected respondents 25.4% suffered from
body malaise, 21.0% had diarrhoea, and 29.7% experienced nausea, vomiting and
loss of appetite, 17.4% suffered headache and abdominal discomfort and 6.5%
experienced inflammation of the lips. The results revealed that 60% of the patients
obtained SP drugs from private community pharmacies without prescriptions while
40% obtained the drug with prescriptions. 83.2% of the patients obtained SP from
them community pharmacies, 13.9% from government hospital pharmacies and
2.9% from home leftover medicine reserves.