title: Self-medication with antimalarial drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
abstract: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using a questionnaire to assess the extent of self-medication with antimalarial drugs and malaria treatment-seeking behaviour among patients attending out-patient treatment at Mnazi mmoja dispensary. It was found that 15.3% of respondents admitted to having ever used malaria chemoprophylaxis while 8.0% reported to be current users of chemoprophylaxis. Among the current users of malaria chemoprophylaxis, some reported having used quinine and Fansidar. While 71.7% reported having treated themselves with home-kept antimalarial drugs for a suspected malaria fever, 14.7% consulted traditional healers. The data suggest the need for increasing public awareness on malaria and appropriate use of antimalarial drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mnyika
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Killewo
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kabalimu
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011803:Quinine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012651:Self Medication; D012737:Sex Factors; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D011803:Quinine; D011739:Pyrimethamine