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Rational prescribing in paediatrics in a resource-limited setting
Rachel Risk1, Hamish Naismith, Alexander Burnett
1Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 11, 2013
Summary
Overprescription of antibiotics and high micronutrient use were found in Gambian children, highlighting a need for better prescribing guidelines. Further research is crucial for rational pediatric prescribing in low-income countries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric pharmacology
- Global health
- Health systems research
Background:
- Inappropriate medication use leads to increased healthcare costs, especially in resource-limited settings.
- Overprescription contributes to antibiotic resistance, a significant global health concern.
- Paediatric prescribing patterns in Africa remain under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and analyze paediatric prescribing practices in The Gambia, West Africa.
- To assess medication use in children under five years old.
- To identify potential areas for improving rational drug prescription.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective survey of 2,400 patient encounters in 20 government health centers across The Gambia.
- Utilized the WHO protocol DAP/93.1 for data collection.
- Recorded patient demographics, diagnoses, and medications for children under 5.
Main Results:
- Mean of 2.2 medications per encounter; antibiotics prescribed in 63.4% of cases.
- High antibiotic use observed for cough, coryzal symptoms (54.5%), and simple diarrhea (44.8%).
- Micronutrients were used in 21.7% of encounters; 74.8% of medications were prescribed generically.
Conclusions:
- Significant overprescription of antibiotics and substantial micronutrient use were identified.
- Lack of international evidence-based guidelines may contribute to current prescribing patterns.
- Cost-effective interventions and further research on rational paediatric prescribing in low-income settings are urgently needed.
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