Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum; Ebenezer Obi Daniel; Israel Olukayode Popoola; Paul Olaiya Abiodun; Ahmed Mamuda Bello; Kabir Yunusa Amari; Christie Omolola Adams; Olayinka Victor Ojo; Oladapo Michael Olagbegi; Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum, Ebenezer Obi Daniel, Israel Olukayode Popoola, Paul Olaiya Abiodun, Ahmed Mamuda Bello, Kabir Yunusa Amari, Christie Omolola Adams, Olayinka Victor Ojo, Oladapo Michael Olagbegi, Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 6, Issue 1)

Received: 21 January 2021 Accepted: 28 January 2021 Published: 9 February 2021

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Abstract

Malaria is a life threatening infectious disease that constitutes a major global public health and economic concern. Consequently, the WHO has recommended a T3 initiative (Test, Treat & Track) to help curb the scourge globally. This study aimed to ascertain the efficacy of malaria diagnosis in malaria case management and perception of community pharmacists on the WHO recommended standard of parasitological diagnosis before commencement of treatment within Abuja metropolis. A descriptive cross sectional study was performed amongst 207 community pharmacists within Abuja Metropolis. Data was obtained through structured, self-administered questionnaire. The association of respondent characteristics with the awareness, practice, and perception of malaria testing, and treatment was evaluated by Chi-square analysis for proportion. Where the number of categories was less than five, Fisher exact test was used. Seventy-two percent (72.9%) were aware of the WHO recommended T3 initiative on malaria case management. However, less than 10% of respondents had training in all the three components. On practice, 28.5% of community pharmacists carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before instituting treatment. Ninety-two percent (92.3%) treat malaria based on clinical signs and symptoms only. Despite the high rate of clinical diagnosis, a majority (84.1%) agreed that the confirmatory test is more effective and efficient in malaria case management than clinical diagnosis. Most respondents (60.4%) reported that the confirmatory test most readily available was mRDT. Eighty-seven percent (87%) have good perception on parasitological confirmatory testing for malaria diagnosis and most respondents have confidence in results from the malaria confirmatory test while 68.6% trust their malaria confirmatory test skill. A little above half (52.7%) of the respondents treat for malaria regardless of negative confirmatory test results when the patient insists on treatment. A higher proportion (39%) of male community Pharmacists compared to females carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before treatment. There was significant association of perception on the efficacy of a parasitological confirmatory test for malaria with age and work experience and there was significant association of work experience with the practice of confirmatory testing before treatment (P<0.05). Inferentially, this is call to action for government, professional bodies in the health sector and all committed to fight the scourge of malaria for more awareness to the general public on importance of the WHO T3 and capacity strengthening for the frontline health workers – community pharmacy attending to community needs on malaria case management.

Published in	International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
Page(s)	6-16
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Malaria, WHO T3, Attitude, Practice, Perception

References

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[2]	Tangpukdee, N., Duangdee, C., Wilairatana, P., & Krudsood, S. (2009). Malaria diagnosis: a brief review. The Korean journal of parasitology, 47 (2), 93–102. https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.93.
[3]	Wongsrichanalai C, Barcus MJ, Muth S, Sutamihardja A, Wernsdorfer WH (2007). A Review of Malaria Diagnostic Tools: Microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) In: Breman JG, Alilio MS, White NJ, editors. Defining and Defeating the Intolerable Burden of Malaria III: Progress and Perspectives: Supplement to Volume 77 (6) of American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Northbrook (IL): American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
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[10]	Hume JC, Barnish G, Mangal T, Armázio L, Streat E, Bates I (2008): Household cost of malaria overdiagnosis in rural Mozambique. Malar J., 7: 33-10.1186/1475-2875-7-33.
[11]	Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria official website.
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[13]	Ndibuagu, E. O., Amadi, O. F. and Ugwu, E. T. (2017) Knowledge and Perception of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test among Medical Doctors in a South Eastern Nigeria Tertiary Hospital. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 5, 1-16.
[14]	Usman R, Umar AA, Gidado S, Gobir AA, Obi IF, Ajayi I, Ajumobi O. (2018) Predictors of malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests’ utilisation among healthcare workers in Zamfara State. PLoS ONE 13 (12).
[15]	Benjamin SCU, Emmanuel O, Nkoli NE, Ogochukwu PE, Miriam OA, Florence T.(2011) Improving Rational Treatment of Malaria: Perceptions and Influence of RDTs on Prescribing Behaviour of Health Workers in Southeast Nigeria. PLoS One; 6 (1): e14627.
[16]	Meremikwu M, Okomo U, Nwachukwu C, Oyo-Ita A, Eke-Njoku J, Okebe J, Oyo-Ita E, Garner P (2007): Anti-malarial drug prescribing practice in private and public facilities in south-east Nigeria: a descriptive study. Malar J, 6: 55.
[17]	Obi IF, Sabitu K, Olorukooba A, Adebowale AS, Usman R, Nwokoro U, Ajumobi O, Idris S, Nwankwo L, Ajayi O. O (2019) Health workers’ perception of malaria rapid diagnostic test and factors influencing compliance with test results in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. PLoS ONE 14 (10): e0223869. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223869.
[18]	Kwuntida U Kotepui, Manas Kotepui, Chuchard Punsawad (2019); Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Related to Malaria diagnosis among Health Workers in Hospitals: across sectional survey. Journal of Tropical Medicine Volume 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1414079.
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Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum, Ebenezer Obi Daniel, Israel Olukayode Popoola, Paul Olaiya Abiodun, Ahmed Mamuda Bello, et al. (2021). Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 6(1), 6-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

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ACS Style

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum; Ebenezer Obi Daniel; Israel Olukayode Popoola; Paul Olaiya Abiodun; Ahmed Mamuda Bello, et al. Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2021, 6(1), 6-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

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AMA Style

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum, Ebenezer Obi Daniel, Israel Olukayode Popoola, Paul Olaiya Abiodun, Ahmed Mamuda Bello, et al. Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2021;6(1):6-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12,
  author = {Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum and Ebenezer Obi Daniel and Israel Olukayode Popoola and Paul Olaiya Abiodun and Ahmed Mamuda Bello and Kabir Yunusa Amari and Christie Omolola Adams and Olayinka Victor Ojo and Oladapo Michael Olagbegi and Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni},
  title = {Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria},
  journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {6-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20210601.12},
  abstract = {Malaria is a life threatening infectious disease that constitutes a major global public health and economic concern. Consequently, the WHO has recommended a T3 initiative (Test, Treat & Track) to help curb the scourge globally. This study aimed to ascertain the efficacy of malaria diagnosis in malaria case management and perception of community pharmacists on the WHO recommended standard of parasitological diagnosis before commencement of treatment within Abuja metropolis. A descriptive cross sectional study was performed amongst 207 community pharmacists within Abuja Metropolis. Data was obtained through structured, self-administered questionnaire. The association of respondent characteristics with the awareness, practice, and perception of malaria testing, and treatment was evaluated by Chi-square analysis for proportion. Where the number of categories was less than five, Fisher exact test was used. Seventy-two percent (72.9%) were aware of the WHO recommended T3 initiative on malaria case management. However, less than 10% of respondents had training in all the three components. On practice, 28.5% of community pharmacists carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before instituting treatment. Ninety-two percent (92.3%) treat malaria based on clinical signs and symptoms only. Despite the high rate of clinical diagnosis, a majority (84.1%) agreed that the confirmatory test is more effective and efficient in malaria case management than clinical diagnosis. Most respondents (60.4%) reported that the confirmatory test most readily available was mRDT. Eighty-seven percent (87%) have good perception on parasitological confirmatory testing for malaria diagnosis and most respondents have confidence in results from the malaria confirmatory test while 68.6% trust their malaria confirmatory test skill. A little above half (52.7%) of the respondents treat for malaria regardless of negative confirmatory test results when the patient insists on treatment. A higher proportion (39%) of male community Pharmacists compared to females carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before treatment. There was significant association of perception on the efficacy of a parasitological confirmatory test for malaria with age and work experience and there was significant association of work experience with the practice of confirmatory testing before treatment (P<0.05). Inferentially, this is call to action for government, professional bodies in the health sector and all committed to fight the scourge of malaria for more awareness to the general public on importance of the WHO T3 and capacity strengthening for the frontline health workers – community pharmacy attending to community needs on malaria case management.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria
AU  - Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum
AU  - Ebenezer Obi Daniel
AU  - Israel Olukayode Popoola
AU  - Paul Olaiya Abiodun
AU  - Ahmed Mamuda Bello
AU  - Kabir Yunusa Amari
AU  - Christie Omolola Adams
AU  - Olayinka Victor Ojo
AU  - Oladapo Michael Olagbegi
AU  - Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni
Y1  - 2021/02/09
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
SP  - 6
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-966X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
AB  - Malaria is a life threatening infectious disease that constitutes a major global public health and economic concern. Consequently, the WHO has recommended a T3 initiative (Test, Treat & Track) to help curb the scourge globally. This study aimed to ascertain the efficacy of malaria diagnosis in malaria case management and perception of community pharmacists on the WHO recommended standard of parasitological diagnosis before commencement of treatment within Abuja metropolis. A descriptive cross sectional study was performed amongst 207 community pharmacists within Abuja Metropolis. Data was obtained through structured, self-administered questionnaire. The association of respondent characteristics with the awareness, practice, and perception of malaria testing, and treatment was evaluated by Chi-square analysis for proportion. Where the number of categories was less than five, Fisher exact test was used. Seventy-two percent (72.9%) were aware of the WHO recommended T3 initiative on malaria case management. However, less than 10% of respondents had training in all the three components. On practice, 28.5% of community pharmacists carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before instituting treatment. Ninety-two percent (92.3%) treat malaria based on clinical signs and symptoms only. Despite the high rate of clinical diagnosis, a majority (84.1%) agreed that the confirmatory test is more effective and efficient in malaria case management than clinical diagnosis. Most respondents (60.4%) reported that the confirmatory test most readily available was mRDT. Eighty-seven percent (87%) have good perception on parasitological confirmatory testing for malaria diagnosis and most respondents have confidence in results from the malaria confirmatory test while 68.6% trust their malaria confirmatory test skill. A little above half (52.7%) of the respondents treat for malaria regardless of negative confirmatory test results when the patient insists on treatment. A higher proportion (39%) of male community Pharmacists compared to females carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before treatment. There was significant association of perception on the efficacy of a parasitological confirmatory test for malaria with age and work experience and there was significant association of work experience with the practice of confirmatory testing before treatment (P<0.05). Inferentially, this is call to action for government, professional bodies in the health sector and all committed to fight the scourge of malaria for more awareness to the general public on importance of the WHO T3 and capacity strengthening for the frontline health workers – community pharmacy attending to community needs on malaria case management.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
Ebenezer Obi Daniel

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
Israel Olukayode Popoola

Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Paul Olaiya Abiodun

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
Ahmed Mamuda Bello

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
Kabir Yunusa Amari

Department of Psychology, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
Christie Omolola Adams

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
Olayinka Victor Ojo

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana
Oladapo Michael Olagbegi

South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni

Department of Public Health, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana

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APA Style

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum, Ebenezer Obi Daniel, Israel Olukayode Popoola, Paul Olaiya Abiodun, Ahmed Mamuda Bello, et al. (2021). Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 6(1), 6-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

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ACS Style

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum; Ebenezer Obi Daniel; Israel Olukayode Popoola; Paul Olaiya Abiodun; Ahmed Mamuda Bello, et al. Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2021, 6(1), 6-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

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AMA Style

Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum, Ebenezer Obi Daniel, Israel Olukayode Popoola, Paul Olaiya Abiodun, Ahmed Mamuda Bello, et al. Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2021;6(1):6-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12,
  author = {Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum and Ebenezer Obi Daniel and Israel Olukayode Popoola and Paul Olaiya Abiodun and Ahmed Mamuda Bello and Kabir Yunusa Amari and Christie Omolola Adams and Olayinka Victor Ojo and Oladapo Michael Olagbegi and Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni},
  title = {Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria},
  journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {6-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20210601.12},
  abstract = {Malaria is a life threatening infectious disease that constitutes a major global public health and economic concern. Consequently, the WHO has recommended a T3 initiative (Test, Treat & Track) to help curb the scourge globally. This study aimed to ascertain the efficacy of malaria diagnosis in malaria case management and perception of community pharmacists on the WHO recommended standard of parasitological diagnosis before commencement of treatment within Abuja metropolis. A descriptive cross sectional study was performed amongst 207 community pharmacists within Abuja Metropolis. Data was obtained through structured, self-administered questionnaire. The association of respondent characteristics with the awareness, practice, and perception of malaria testing, and treatment was evaluated by Chi-square analysis for proportion. Where the number of categories was less than five, Fisher exact test was used. Seventy-two percent (72.9%) were aware of the WHO recommended T3 initiative on malaria case management. However, less than 10% of respondents had training in all the three components. On practice, 28.5% of community pharmacists carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before instituting treatment. Ninety-two percent (92.3%) treat malaria based on clinical signs and symptoms only. Despite the high rate of clinical diagnosis, a majority (84.1%) agreed that the confirmatory test is more effective and efficient in malaria case management than clinical diagnosis. Most respondents (60.4%) reported that the confirmatory test most readily available was mRDT. Eighty-seven percent (87%) have good perception on parasitological confirmatory testing for malaria diagnosis and most respondents have confidence in results from the malaria confirmatory test while 68.6% trust their malaria confirmatory test skill. A little above half (52.7%) of the respondents treat for malaria regardless of negative confirmatory test results when the patient insists on treatment. A higher proportion (39%) of male community Pharmacists compared to females carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before treatment. There was significant association of perception on the efficacy of a parasitological confirmatory test for malaria with age and work experience and there was significant association of work experience with the practice of confirmatory testing before treatment (P<0.05). Inferentially, this is call to action for government, professional bodies in the health sector and all committed to fight the scourge of malaria for more awareness to the general public on importance of the WHO T3 and capacity strengthening for the frontline health workers – community pharmacy attending to community needs on malaria case management.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment: Perception of Community Pharmacists in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria
AU  - Emmanuel Peace Chukwuzurum
AU  - Ebenezer Obi Daniel
AU  - Israel Olukayode Popoola
AU  - Paul Olaiya Abiodun
AU  - Ahmed Mamuda Bello
AU  - Kabir Yunusa Amari
AU  - Christie Omolola Adams
AU  - Olayinka Victor Ojo
AU  - Oladapo Michael Olagbegi
AU  - Gabriel Omoniyi Ayeni
Y1  - 2021/02/09
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
SP  - 6
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-966X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20210601.12
AB  - Malaria is a life threatening infectious disease that constitutes a major global public health and economic concern. Consequently, the WHO has recommended a T3 initiative (Test, Treat & Track) to help curb the scourge globally. This study aimed to ascertain the efficacy of malaria diagnosis in malaria case management and perception of community pharmacists on the WHO recommended standard of parasitological diagnosis before commencement of treatment within Abuja metropolis. A descriptive cross sectional study was performed amongst 207 community pharmacists within Abuja Metropolis. Data was obtained through structured, self-administered questionnaire. The association of respondent characteristics with the awareness, practice, and perception of malaria testing, and treatment was evaluated by Chi-square analysis for proportion. Where the number of categories was less than five, Fisher exact test was used. Seventy-two percent (72.9%) were aware of the WHO recommended T3 initiative on malaria case management. However, less than 10% of respondents had training in all the three components. On practice, 28.5% of community pharmacists carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before instituting treatment. Ninety-two percent (92.3%) treat malaria based on clinical signs and symptoms only. Despite the high rate of clinical diagnosis, a majority (84.1%) agreed that the confirmatory test is more effective and efficient in malaria case management than clinical diagnosis. Most respondents (60.4%) reported that the confirmatory test most readily available was mRDT. Eighty-seven percent (87%) have good perception on parasitological confirmatory testing for malaria diagnosis and most respondents have confidence in results from the malaria confirmatory test while 68.6% trust their malaria confirmatory test skill. A little above half (52.7%) of the respondents treat for malaria regardless of negative confirmatory test results when the patient insists on treatment. A higher proportion (39%) of male community Pharmacists compared to females carry out malaria diagnosis with a confirmatory test before treatment. There was significant association of perception on the efficacy of a parasitological confirmatory test for malaria with age and work experience and there was significant association of work experience with the practice of confirmatory testing before treatment (P<0.05). Inferentially, this is call to action for government, professional bodies in the health sector and all committed to fight the scourge of malaria for more awareness to the general public on importance of the WHO T3 and capacity strengthening for the frontline health workers – community pharmacy attending to community needs on malaria case management.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

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