Caregivers' understanding of pediatric medication in central Malawi.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate caregivers' understanding of prescriptions of antibiotics and antimalarials for children in Malawi.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using interviews with 513 caregivers was undertaken in three different medical settings in two districts in Malawi for their understanding of medication defined as comprehension of dosage, frequency and duration immediately after receiving medicine, and its association with their sociodemographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Nearly half (49%) of the caregivers understood medication on the day of prescription. Understanding varied by type of drug. Sixty-five percent understood medication for antimalarials, LA (lumefantrine and artemether), while only 38% understood medication for amoxicillin syrup. Multivariate analysis showed that caregivers with higher education and older children had greater understanding.


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers' understanding of pediatric medication was differentially related to kinds and types of medicine as well as their education level. The instruction to caregivers on how to administer medication should be evaluated especially when they are less educated.
Graduate School of International Health Development, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
Eriko
E
Sasaki
Graduate School of International Health Development, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan ykami@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
Yasuhiko
Y
Kamiya
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D032882:Comprehension; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010372:Pediatrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000962:Antimalarials
caregiver understanding; education level; pediatric medication