title: AEDs availability and professional practices in delivery outlets in a city center in southern Vietnam.
abstract: In developing countries, from 80 to 90% of the people with active epilepsy do not have access to treatment. A multitude of factors such as nonavailability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) contributes to the treatment gap in epilepsy. Our study carried out in 2003 in southern Vietnam showed that 57% of pharmacies had AEDs. A majority of these pharmacies were located in specific areas like market area or hospital area. The pharmacist in charge was present in only 24% of the pharmacies. The different kinds of AEDs available were carbamazepine (94%), phenytoin (61%), valproate (56%) and diazepam (16%). The maximum stock of a drug was two box. The availability of AEDs in southern Vietnam can be regarded as sufficient but does not allow an adequate treatment for a long time. An effort must be made to sensitize professional health workers to decrease the treatment gap in epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology (EA3174), School of Medicine, 2 rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Tu Luong
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Mac
authors.forename: Van Tuan
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Anh Nhi
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
authors.forename: Voa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ratsimbazafy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016527:Drug Costs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000592:standards; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants