Assessment Of Provider Training On The Use Of Amfm Acts In Private Drug Outlets In Kumasi

Abstract: Malaria cases in the community are treated mainly by accessing anti-malarial drugs from licensed chemical sellers (LCSs). With the introduction of the AMFm ACTs and training of Licensed Chemical Sellers ( LCSs) on malaria case management, there is the need to assess their knowledge on malaria diagnosis and prescription of appropriate anti-malarial drugs. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Kumasi Metropolis. A total of 125 trained and 68 untrained licensed chemical sellers were randomly sampled from each of the five Sub-Metros using structured questionnaire and stratified sampling. The SPSS programme version 16.0 was used for data entry. Chi Square test was run to determine the effect of the training; and the p-values used to compare trained and untrained respondents on selected variables. The results show that licensed chemical sellers in the study area diagnosed malaria presumptively, without confirming it with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Those trained had better knowledge of diagnosing uncomplicated malaria; thus 106 (84.8%), trained as compared to untrained, 33 (48.5%), with χ2=28.753 and p<0.0001 were able to identify malaria. Similarly, all trained respondents correctly identified the clinical manifestations of complicated malaria; that is 63 (92.6%) of the untrained doing it correctly. On the average more than half of respondents prescribed ACTs for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria; some monotherapies, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP), are still being used to treat clinically suspected malaria. However none of them prescribed chloroquine for their clients/patients. The training has improved the knowledge of the beneficiary licensed chemical sellers, in the diagnosis and management of malaria. There is a steady increase in the use of ACTs, despite the fact that some monotherapies are still available on the Ghanaian pharmaceutical market