Assessment of Knowledge On Use of Artemether Lumefantrine in Management of Uncomplicated Malaria Among Outpatients at Klu-Th

ABSTRACT This study sought to assess the knowledge on the use of Artemether/ therapy in the management of uncomplicated malaria among out patients treated at KlU-TH. A cross sectional study design was employed in this study. Data was collected from August to October 2018 using a questionnaire by simple Random sampling and was entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel spread sheet and Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 respectively. The results were presented in form of tables, charts, graphs and Pearson Chi Square test were generated. The minimum and maximum age of the respondents was 0.5 and 55 respectively given that Skewness was greater than I. ( 1.043). The findings of the study have demonstrated that the patients' knowledge on use of ArtemetherLumefantrine for management of uncomplicated malaria is inadequate following key parameters of dosing time, duration of treatment, dietary recommendations and response to side effects. Certain aspects which could affect proper use of the drug like knowledge on the possible side effects and what to do when they experience them, the AL dietary requirements and why they should not stop taking the ir drug even when they feel better before the treatment is over, what to do if they vomited any dose were not clearly understood by the patients. It was found out that patients' level of Education had no significant effect on their knowledge on use of AL. Other patient factors like Marital status, Patient occupation and the frequency of obtaining AL as OTC were not significantly associated with the knowledge expressed by the patients on AL. The major challenges to poor use in this setting were related to difficulties in fo llowing expected dosing schedule and most especially the time for the second dose, time for completion of the dose, dietary recommendations and what is done when the drug is vomited which could be sorted out through improved counseling and patient Education on tak ing the medication by the dispenser or pharmacist. CONCLUSION: Patients did not have adequate knowledge on the dispensed drug and particularly on the dosing schedule and dietary recommendations associated w ith the use of AL. The patients' leve l of Education did not have a significant effect on the knowledge on use of AL expressed by the patients. This could imply that the quality of patient- service provider interaction and patt icularly counseling and emphasis on all issues pertaining the use of the dispensed drugs is weak. RECOMMENDATIONS: Re-train hea lth workers particularly dispensers/ pharmacists on the purpose of effective counseling on disease and treatment issues of the patients. Ensure that all first doses of AL be administered before the patient leaves the hea lth fac ility. Set a fo llow up strategy of the patient to assess response to therapy at least after two days and solve any problems that may have resulted from treatment.