title: Outcome of the first Medicines Utilization Research in Africa group meeting to promote sustainable and rational medicine use in Africa.
abstract: The first Medicines Utilization Research in Africa group workshop and symposium brought researchers together from across Africa to improve their knowledge on drug utilization methodologies as well as exchange ideas. As a result, progress was made on drug utilization research and formulating future strategies to enhance the rational use of medicines in Africa. Anti-infectives were the principal theme for the 1-day symposium following the workshops. This included presentations on the inappropriate use of antibiotics as well as ways to address this. Concerns with adverse drug reactions and adherence to anti-retroviral medicines were also discussed, with poor adherence remaining a challenge. There were also concerns with the underutilization of generics. These discussions resulted in a number of agreed activities before the next conference in 2016.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massele
authors.affiliation: b 2 Medicine Usage in South Africa (MUSA), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Johanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: c 3 Faculty of Health Science, School of Medicine Department of General Medicine and Therapeutics, Nelson Mandela Campus, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
authors.forename: Norah L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Katende-Kyenda
authors.affiliation: d 4 University of Namibia, School of Pharmacy, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalemeera
authors.affiliation: e 5 Nyangabwe Hospital, Francistown, Botswana.|f 6 Drug Utilisation Research Unit (DURU), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University , Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Thatoyaone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kenaope
authors.affiliation: d 4 University of Namibia, School of Pharmacy, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kibuule
authors.affiliation: g 7 Rex & Nhlangano Pharmacy, Nhlangano, Swaziland.
authors.forename: Ogochukwu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mbachu
authors.affiliation: d 4 University of Namibia, School of Pharmacy, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Mwangana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mubita
authors.affiliation: h 8 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oluka
authors.affiliation: i 9 Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adedunni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olusanya
authors.affiliation: e 5 Nyangabwe Hospital, Francistown, Botswana.|j 10 University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bene D Anand
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Paramadhas
authors.affiliation: k 11 University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Zyl
authors.affiliation: l 12 Karolinska Institute, Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, SE 141 86, Sweden.|m 13 Strathclyde Instiyute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, 141 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godman
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents