[Evaluation of public awareness campaigns on counterfeit medicines in Cotonou, Benin]

A public awareness campaign mainly TV and radio announcements to promote public awareness of the dangers of counterfeit medicines was developed based on survey data collected in 2003. The survey was designed to evaluate the purchasing practices of consumers in Cotonou, Benin with regard to medicines. Based on findings, several recommendations were made for crafting new messages about generic drugs and the dangers of the illicit medicines market. Evaluation of the results of the new campaign that lasted 9 months showed that: most respondents stated that the campaign announcements were effective in increasing their awareness; nine out of 10 persons understood the messages on the dangers of the illicit market; a net decrease in buying on the illicit market was observed among respondents that increased their awareness; the frequency of house calls by illicit vendors decreased. Most respondents stated that they requested generic drugs spontaneously. The preferred sources for procurement of generic medicines were public health facilities and pharmacies.