Assessment of the Knowledge and Practice of Health Extension Workers Regarding the Medicine they Handle, in Selected Districts of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Shuke, Ayalnesh (2014) Assessment of the Knowledge and Practice of Health Extension Workers Regarding the Medicine they Handle, in Selected Districts of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

The involvement of the CHW (community health workers) in drug provision has increased the availability of essential drugs lowest feasible cost to the population at the peripheral level. Some experts remain cautious about this approach, because of concerns that allowing CHWs to distribute anti-infective will increase the inappropriate use of drugs and accelerate the development of drug resistance. So this thesis assessed the knowledge and practice of HEWs regarding the medicines they handle in Sidama Zone. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2011 to January 2012. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a total of 55 HEWs available in the health posts (HP).Thirty HPs were selected from 3 districts. Medical record review was also made. Results showed that only 36.4% respondents were aware of the correct adult doses of Chloroquine and 29% and 40% of the respondents could not tell the dose of Coartem® and Chloroquine without referring to the treatment guideline, respectively. Fifty-two(94.5%) of the respondents did not knew the drug interaction between Coartem® and oral contraceptives and only 12.5% of the respondents were aware of food requirement while taking Coartem®. Only 3.6% and 29(52.7%) of HEWs reported correct doses of Amoxicillin and Cotrimoxazole, respectively. Of a total of 356 prescriptions, 50(14%) were not consistent with recommended guidelines. Therefore, the Zonal health department/ Woreda Health Office should organize refresher trainings for the HEWs to improve their knowledge about doses, drug interactions and contraindications of antimalarial drugs and antibiotics. And they should also encourage the consistency of the HEWs practice to the recommended guidelines regarding appropriate treatment choices.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1001 Forensic Medicine. Medical jurisprudence. Legal medicine
R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Vincent Mpoza
Date Deposited: 03 Jul 2018 07:47
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2018 07:47
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/6478

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