European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ANTI-MALARIA PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN MANAGEMENT OF MALARIA IN PREGNANCY IN TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Emerue Jennifer Chidinma and *Mgbahurike A. Amaka

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Malaria infection during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and fetal out comes.. Prompt and effective treatment, in accordance with recommended guidelines is essential to help prevent adverse events among mother and foetus. The Standard treatment guidelines for malaria states quinine and clindamycin as the drug of choice for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in first trimester and any of the following recommended artemisinin based combination therapies (ACT) for second and third trimesters. Objective: To evaluate the pattern of antimalarial prescriptions in all trimesters of pregnancy, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Also,to determine the level to which the prescription pattern comply with Standard guidelines. Method: A retrospective study of pregnant women (for all trimesters) treated for malaria between July 2018 - July 2020 in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, was carried out. One hundred and three (103) patient case folders contained information regarding patient’s malaria infection and treatment. Data collected includes: demographics information of patients; anti-malaria medications used; route of administration; other medications co-administered; presence of comorbidity; trimester of pregnancy in which malaria infection occurred. Result: The most frequently prescribed drug in the first trimester was Arthemeter (69%) and Arthemeter/lumefantrine 80/480mg (25%) and α-β artheeter (6%). For the second and third trimesters Arthemeter i.m were the frequently prescribed, 56% and 52% respectively followed by Arthemeter/lumefantrine at 20% and 28%, α-β arteether 12%and 15% respectively and the least prescribed was the combination Arthemeter and the prophylactic drug Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for treatment at 12% and 5% respectively. Conclusion: The study carried out shows concerns in the antimalarial prescription pattern in the first trimester of pregnancy. While in the second and third the prescription pattern shows low conformity with the standard guidelines for treatment of malaria in pregnancy.

Keywords: Prescription Pattern, Anti-malaria, Pregnancy.