ASSESSMENT OF RATIONAL USE OF ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS IN HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN KANO METROPOLIS
ASSESSMENT OF RATIONAL USE OF ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS IN HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN KANO METROPOLIS
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Date
2006-05
Authors
SAMAILA, IDRIS GAYA B.
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Abstract
With the national prevalence of 5.0% in Nigeria, HIV infections have become one of the
most dreadly medical challenges. Availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy
(HAART) has given a new hope of living with somewhat terminal syndrome. The
availability, affordability and effective usage of antiretrovirals in Kano (North West
Nigeria) was studied to provide a data for compliance study with the National Standard
Treatment Guideline (STG) and also for comparison with other International data. A total
of 138 patients (pooled from three health institutions) were studied at random through a
structured questionnaire and patient medication information record. The mean age of the
patients was 35.6years with a standard deviation of 7.8 years. Antiretroviral drugs are
readily available. However, affordability among the subjects studied was 97.5% and
47.5% at a subsidized federal government rate of one thousand naira per month and at a
retail price of ten thousands naira per month respectively. Adherence to therapy was
difficult with about 60% of the patients having missed at least a dose in their treatment
schedule. In fact, 25% of them have missed at least a dose within a week preceding the
study. Factors responsible for non-adherence (in decreasing order) were fasting,
cumbersome (indefinite) treatment period, forgetfulness, side effects (mainly skin rash),
fear of stigmatization (as patients can’t take medication in others presence), unavailability
and travelling. The study also showed that 88.4% of the patients were on triple HAART
with 11.6% on either dual or monotherapy. Antiretroviral drugs used in the management
of HIV/AIDS were drawn from the lamivudine, Zidovudine, Stavudine, and Nevirapine
group.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE
IN PHARMACOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLGY AND CLINICAL PHARMACY,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA
NIGERIA
MAY 2006
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, RATIONAL,, ANTIRETROVIRAL,, DRUGS,, HEALTH,, INSTITUTIONS,, KANO,, METROPOLIS,