Storage of antimalarials at household level and associated factors in Kiromo ward, Bagamoyo Tanzania

Background: Malaria is a highly debilitating and frequently fatal disease of wide distribution. Improper drug storage and rampant self-medication are some of the factors that may contribute to an increase in the development of drug resistance by malaria parasites towards antimalarials. Objectives: To determine the extent of antimalarial drugs storage, sources and associated factors at household level at Kiromo ward in Bagamoyo, Coast region, Tanzania after the introduction of SP replacing chloroquine as first line. Methods: A total of 300 households from three villages making up Kiromo ward were included in this study. Swahili version of the questionnaire and a checklist were used in data collection. Results: Of the 300 households visited 25 (8.3%) were found to store antimalarials. The most commonly stored antimalarials were amodiaquine (30.8%) and quinine (34.6%). Most of these were in tablet form (76.9%). The source of these drugs was mostly from dispensaries. Kiromo was the only dispensary in the ward and others were outside the ward. These drugs were stored in special containers for safety. Frequent episodes of illness in the family were given as the most (56%) common reasons for drug storage in the families, followed by distance (20%). There was a statistically significant (