Abstract:
Background:
The study was conducted in primary healthcare facilities in Vhembe
district in Limpopo province, South Africa. Seeing that the National
Drug policy was implemented in 1996 and followed by the Standard
Treatment Guidelines, it was necessary to investigate if PHC facilities
are prescribing according to the guidelines. Although the data
collected was from five clinics, iinformation on antimicrobial
prescribing patterns is necessary for a constructive approach to the
challenges that arise from the vast number of antibiotics that are
available in the market and the occurrence of resistance.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to investigate whether prescribers at
Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Vhembe district adhered to the
Standard Treatment Guidelines/Essential Drug List (STG/EDL) when
prescribing antimicrobials.
Method:
Five hundred antimicrobial prescribing patterns and patient
demographics were recorded from five PHC facilities (100
prescriptions in each) in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province over
a two weeks period. In all PHC facilities, data collection of
prescriptions focused on the period from 01 August 2007 until the
required number of 100 prescriptions was reached.
x
Results:
Conditions where prescriptions complied to STG/EDL were skin
infections and wound 91.67% (22/24), upper respiratory tract
infection 86.49% (32/37), bronchitis 80% (4/5), ear/eye infections
75% (3/4), otitis media 57.14% (4/7), sore throat/tonsillitis 56.57%
(56/99), urinary tract infection 37.5% (3/8), sexual transmitted
infections 37.25% (19/51), bites 33.33% (1/3), and abscesses 25%
(1/4). All other remaining 18 conditions that were listed as diagnosis
did not comply at all. On overall only 29.2% (146/500) of
prescriptions that were evaluated complied.
Conclusion:
Antimicrobial prescribing patterns adhering to the EDL/STD were low.
Attention needs to be given to the prescribing of antimicrobials.
