The Problem of Antimalarial-Drug Abuse by the Inhabitants of Ghana
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
Statistical Analysis
3. Results
- The distribution of respondents by sex and age groups.
- Contact with malaria among family members.
- Knowledge of malaria symptoms.
- Knowledge of the cause of malaria by age.
Age Group | Distribution of People by Sex in Age Groups | Contact with Malaria among Family Members | Knowledge of Malaria Symptoms | Knowledge of the Cause of Malaria by Age | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
<16 | 12 | 28 | 37 | 3 | 31 | 9 | 11 | 29 |
16–20 | 18 | 31 | 45 | 4 | 44 | 5 | 31 | 18 |
21–30 | 39 | 49 | 81 | 7 | 82 | 6 | 49 | 39 |
31–40 | 28 | 17 | 42 | 3 | 39 | 6 | 31 | 14 |
41–50 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 4 |
>51 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
- Knowledge of how to purchase and perform a rapid diagnostic test for malaria (before using the drug without consulting medical staff).
- Performing a rapid diagnostic test for malaria before purchasing antimalarial drugs.
Age Group | Knows about the Possibility to a Purchase Rapid Test for Malaria | Did the Respondents Take a Rapid Test for Malaria before Purchasing Antimalarial Drugs? | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | No | Yes | No | |
<16 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 15 |
16–20 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
21–30 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
31–40 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
41–50 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
>51 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4. Discussion
4.1. Knowledge of Malaria Symptoms
4.2. Knowledge of the Cause of Malaria
4.3. Knowledge of Malaria Prevention
4.4. Consultation with Medical Personnel before Taking Antimalarial Drugs
4.5. Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria
4.6. Appropriate Use of Antimalarial Drugs
5. Conclusions
- (1)
- Awareness among the people of Accra and Yendi about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of malaria is quite high.
- (2)
- Public education and awareness, as well as accessibility to places where antimalarial drugs are sold, play a very important role in the proper use of antimalarial drugs.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
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Zieliński, E.; Kowalczyk, M.; Osowiecka, K.; Klepacki, Ł.; Dyśko, Ł.; Wojtysiak, K. The Problem of Antimalarial-Drug Abuse by the Inhabitants of Ghana. Medicina 2023, 59, 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59020257
Zieliński E, Kowalczyk M, Osowiecka K, Klepacki Ł, Dyśko Ł, Wojtysiak K. The Problem of Antimalarial-Drug Abuse by the Inhabitants of Ghana. Medicina. 2023; 59(2):257. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59020257
Chicago/Turabian StyleZieliński, Ewa, Marek Kowalczyk, Karolina Osowiecka, Łukasz Klepacki, Łukasz Dyśko, and Katarzyna Wojtysiak. 2023. "The Problem of Antimalarial-Drug Abuse by the Inhabitants of Ghana" Medicina 59, no. 2: 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59020257
APA StyleZieliński, E., Kowalczyk, M., Osowiecka, K., Klepacki, Ł., Dyśko, Ł., & Wojtysiak, K. (2023). The Problem of Antimalarial-Drug Abuse by the Inhabitants of Ghana. Medicina, 59(2), 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59020257