Practices Regarding the Use of Antimalarial Medications among Inhabitants of the Buea Health District, Southwestern Cameroon: Implications for Malaria Treatment Policy

Background: Malaria treatment policy recommends continuous monitoring and reporting of therapeutic efficacy of antimalarial medications for early detection of resistant strains. Patient adherence to policies regarding the use of antimalarial medications is critical to success of global malaria elimination. This study assessed the practices regarding the use of antimalarial medications in the Buea Health District, Southwest Cameroon. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 495 people living in the district with episodes of malaria in the last one year prior to the study was conducted between February and August, 2015. Questionnaire was designed to obtain information from participants on the general knowledge of malaria and practices regarding to the use of antimalarial medications. Results: Knowledge on malaria symptoms, transmission and prevention was reasonable among 80.6% (399) of the respondents (p < 0.07). Only 31.3% (155) of the respondent could attribute cause of malaria to protozoan of genus Plasmodium species. Majority of the respondents 56.9% (283) frequently treat malaria with ACT, 32.4% (161) with monotherapy, < 15% with other non-ACTs. Presumptive diagnosis was commonly practiced by 67.3% (333) of the respondents. The prevalence of self-medication in the study population was 18.4%. Only 57.2% (283) of respondents took prescribed antimalarials. Majority of self-medicated respondents (63%) obtained antimalarials from drugstores and friends. About 50.9% (252) of the respondents took medications regularly and 57.6% (258) completed the treatment regimen. Respondents whose treatments were based on laboratory diagnosis adhered better than those on self-medication or recommended at the pharmacy (p < 0.02). Conclusion: The findings revealed a high knowledge of malaria with poor practices regarding the use of antimalarials. Efforts are needed to educate inhabitants of the district on practices regarding the use of antimalarials to prevent early emergence of drug resistance. Keywords: Antimalarials, Drug resistance, Presumptive diagnosis, Self-medication, Adherenc