The Quality of Pharmacy Practice Among Dispensers in Private Pharmacies: A Case Study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The quality of pharmacy practice provided by dispensers in private pharmacies was studied. Parameters used include levels of education of the dispensers, access to health information, knowledge and practice regarding dispensing of drugs to patients, and disposal of expired drugs. A total of 150 dispensers selected from 150 pharmacies participated in the study. Data was collected by interviewing the dispensers through structured questionnaires and observations. Regarding the levels of education of the respondents, the study revealed that 26.7 % had neither pharmaceutical nor medical education and that only 25.3 % of the respondents had regular access to health information. However, results showed that 75 % of all pharmacists interviewed were knowledgeable about good practice regarding dispensing of drugs to patients. Further, the results revealed that 92.7 % of the pharmacies had their drugs arranged on the shelves according to pharmacological classification. Results on assessment of knowledge about disposing of expired drugs showed 66.7% of the respondents were not knowledgeable. It is concluded that, there is a need for training of dispensers on good pharmacy practice through continuing education in order to achieve quality pharmaceutical services in private pharmacies. Key Words: Pharmacy practice, dispensers, pharmaceutical services, private pharmacies. East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.5(2) 2002: 24-2

Implementation of artemether-lumefantrine treatment policy for malaria at health facilities in Tanzania

V Mugoyela1, O Minzi21Department of Medicinal Chemistry, 2Unit of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, TanzaniaBackground: The purpose of this study was to compare knowledge on the part of health workers in public and private health facilities about prescribing and dispensing of an artemether-lumefantrine combination, 3 years after moving from sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine to artemether-lumefantrine as a first-line treatment for nonsevere malaria in Tanzania.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 306 dispensaries and pharmacies was conducted in Dar Es Salaam and the Coast region of Tanzania. Of these, 122 were community pharmacies, 143 were private dispensaries, and 41 were public dispensaries. Specific outcome measures were health workers’ knowledge of the new malaria treatment guidelines, recommended doses of artemether-lumefantrine, and food requirements.Results: A total of 489 health workers were included in the study. The respondents were prescribers in private dispensaries, public dispensaries, and community pharmacies. Participants included medical officers (3.7%), clinical officers (38%), pharmacists (5.7%), and pharmaceutical technicians (3.9%). Nearly all workers in the public dispensaries and about 50% of workers in private dispensaries and community pharmacies were aware of recommended first-line malaria treatment. The difference in the proportion of health workers with adequate knowledge about the new recommended antimalarial medicine in public and private dispensaries was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There was a higher proportion of workers in public dispensaries who had adequate knowledge about doses of artemether-lumefantrine for adults compared with workers in private dispensaries (P = 0.001). Only 58.0% of respondents were able to state correctly the recommended doses in private dispensaries as compared with 77.0% in public dispensaries. Knowledge about the requirement for a concomitant fatty meal was not significantly different between workers in public and private dispensaries (P = 0.280) or between those working in public dispensaries and pharmacies (P = 0.622).Conclusion: Knowledge about the use of artemether-lumefantrine was higher among health workers in public dispensaries than in their counterparts from private health care settings. The training organized by the Ministry of Health for workers in public health facilities in Tanzania contributed to such differences.Keywords: knowledge, public dispensaries, private dispensaries, pharmacie

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Contraceptive Use among Secondary School Students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The rapid increase in the proportion of sexually active adolescents is exposing large numbers of youths to the risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Promotion and strengthening of reproductive health education and services, especially among adolescents requires access to current baseline data on knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among adolescents, including secondary school students. This data is very scanty for Tanzania. The aim of this work was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraceptive use among secondary school students in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania. Ilala district of Dar es salaam has a high concentration of secondary schools enrolling a cosmopolitan population of students hailing from most regions of the country. These come from various social-economic backgrounds effectively representing the general Tanzanian population. The study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. Secondary school students aged 14 to 19 years were interviewed on their knowledge, attitude and practice on contraceptive use using a structured questionnaire. A total of 200 students (126 females, 74 males) participated in the study. Knowledge on contraceptive use was found to be good to average (75%). Knowledge and prevalence of contraceptive use was found to increase with age, current use and positive attitude. Female students had better knowledge on contraception than male students. Good knowledge on contraception did not translate into increased use, the prevalence of use being only 34% as compared to 75% of students with average to good knowledge. More students reported using the male condom for contraception. Most students (69.5%) mentioned pharmacies and drug stores as their main source of contraceptives. These findings underscore the need for early education on human sexuality and the benefits of family planning. Health care providers, including pharmacists, must be trained to be able to provide adequate basic contraceptive services to adolescents and the general public. There is need to improve access to contraceptive services by adolescents.Keywords: Contraceptives knowledge, attitude to contraception, practice of contraception, secondary school studentsEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 13 (2010) 43-4

Perception on the Use of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Tablets in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Adult Malaria Patients Residing in Dar es Salaam

A prospective study on assessment of perceived efficacy and side effects of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) tablets in two hundred and twenty eight adult malaria patients in Dar es Salaam region was carried out shortly before the drug was introduced as a first line treatment for malaria in Tanzania. Sources and dispensing practices with SP in the private community pharmacies were also assessed. The study revealed that 80.3% of the patients were relieved from malaria symptoms and 19.7% did not feel any relief after using the drug. Further, the results showed that 39.5% of the patients did not experience side effects while 60.5% experienced them. Among the affected respondents 25.4% suffered from body malaise, 21.0% had diarrhoea, and 29.7% experienced nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, 17.4% suffered headache and abdominal discomfort and 6.5% experienced inflammation of the lips. The results revealed that 60% of the patients obtained SP drugs from private community pharmacies without prescriptions while 40% obtained the drug with prescriptions. 83.2% of the patients obtained SP from them community pharmacies, 13.9% from government hospital pharmacies and 2.9% from home leftover medicine reserves. (E & C Afr Jnl Pharm Sci: 2002 5(1): 19-22)

Synthesis and Potential Trypanocidal Activity of N, N-disubstituted-3-(1-benzenesulphonylindol- 2-yl and -3-yl) propagylamines

The synthesis of N, N-disubstituted –3-( 1-benzenesulphonylindol- 2-yl and 3-yl) propagylamines by cuprous catalyzed Mannich reaction of 2 and 3, 1-(1-benzenesulphonyl-indol)ethynes and secondary amines in ethanol at reflux temperature afforded the compounds 4-methylpiperazinomethyl-2-(1-benzenesulphonylindol-2-yl)ethyne (1), 4-methylpiperazinomethyl-2-(1-benzenesulphonylindol-3-yl)ethyne (2a), 4-methyl-piperazinomethyl-2-(1-benzenesulphonyl-5-methoxyindol-3yl)ethyne (2b), morpholino-2-(benzenesulphonylindol-3yl)ethyne (3a), morpholino-2-(1-benzenesulphonyl-5-methoxy-indol-3-yl)ethyne (3b) and N-carboxyethoxymethyl-3-(1- benzenesulphonylindol-3yl)ethyne (4) in good yields. All these compounds were fully characterized by means of Infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H) and Mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. Their potential trypanocidal activity was evaluated in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (S427/118 Mi Tat 1.5) and compound 1 was found to be the most active. This study has therefore established typical synthetic procedures for the new N, N-disubstituted -3-(1-benzenesulphonylindol-2-yl and -3-yl) propagylamines and furnished their spectral analysis.Keywords: Propagylamines, spectral analysis, synthesis, trypanocidal activityEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 13 (2010) 72-7

Isolation and Characterization of Larvicidal Phenolic Acids from Kotschya thymodora Leaves

Malaria is a vector borne disease responsible for high morbidity, mortality and poverty in many tropical and subtropical countries. The disease is transmitted through a bite from an infected female Anopheles mosquito, amongst which Anopheles gambiae s.s serves as the most prevalent vector. The control of An. gambiae s.s population can therefore lead to a reduction in malaria spreading. Previous studies have reported the crude  extracts of Kotschya thymodora to be active against the larvae of An. gambiae s.s and Culex quinquefasciatus. In this report the phytochemical study on the crude aqueous ethanolic extract of K. thymodora leaves led to isolation of vanillic acid (1) and protocatechuic acid (2). The structures of these compounds and mosquitoes larvicidal activity against An. gambiae s.s were established by using spectroscopic techniques and WHO protocol of 1996 respectively. The two phenolic acids exhibited a moderate mosquito larvicidal activity with LC50 of 77.35 μg/mL (vanillic acid, 1) and 62.4 μg/mL (protocatechuic acid, 2) after 48 hrs exposure time. This is the first report on the isolation of the two phenolic acids from plants belonging to the genus Kotschya and their larvicidal potential against An. gambiae s.s. Keywords: larvicidal activity, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, Anopheles gambiae s.s and Kotschya thymodor

Pesticidal Activity of Wild Mushroom Boletus satanas Lenz Extracts against Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Stored Maize Grains

Boletus satanas Lenz (Boletaceae) is a basidiomycete fungus reported to contain monomeric glycoproteins (lectins) which are known to possess insecticidal, larvicidal, ovicidal and anti-nutritional activities. This study was carried out to assess the toxicity, anti-feedant and repellence potential of the crude methanol extract of the mushroom in stored maize grains. Six levels of concentration ranging from 0.05 to 0.5% w/w were used during the assessments. Untreated grains and grains treated with 2% Actellic gold TM dust (0.05% w/w) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with three replicates made for each treatment level and controls. The 0.5% w/w methanol extract exhibited the highest mean mortality of 68.3% and 94.2% inhibition in F1 progeny. Moreover, 89.7% reduction in grain damage and 98.3% pest repellence were observed. These findings render credence to the use of B. satanas as a potential biopesticide by subsistence farmers to preserve grains and corroborate the ongoing IPM strategies.Keywords: Pesticidal activity, Boletus satanas, maize grains, Sitophilus zeamais, grain damage, Tanzani

Preliminary in vivo antitrypanosomal activity and cytotoxicity of Entada abyssinica, Securinega virosa and Ehretia amoena

Entada abyssinica, Securinega virosa and Ehretia amoena are traditionally used in Southern Uganda to treat Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). Extracts from the roots and root barks of E. abyssinica, S. virosa and E. amoena were investigated for in vivo antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in mice. The extracts were also tested in vitro for potential cytotoxicity against a 3-cell line panel consisting of TK10 (renal), UACC62 (melanoma) and MCF7 (breast) cancer cells using the highly sensitive Sulforhodamine B assay. The ethanolic extract from the roots of E. abyssinica showed a reduction of T. b. brucei parasitaemia at a single dose of 400 mg/kg. The petroleum ether extract from the root bark of E. abyssinica showed the highest cytotoxicity with GI50, total growth inhibition, LC50 and LC100 values of less than 6.25 μg/ml. Our findings confirm earlier in vitro antitrypanosomal studies and lend credence to the traditional use of these plants against trypanosomiasis.Keywords: Medicinal plants, antitrypanosomal activity, anticancer activity, in vivo assay, SRB assay, bioactive component

A quantitative near infrared spectroscopy model for the assay of efavirenz in tablets

Near-infrared-spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis represents the most recent and efficient technology in analytical chemistry. The objective of this study was to utilize near infrared spectroscopy as an adapted technology for the quantitative assay of efavirenz. The study developed and validated a quantitative model for estimating the amount of efavirenz in efavirenz uncoated tablets. The quantification was based on the partial least squares algorithm and constructed by cross-validation. A UV spectrophotometric procedure was used as the reference method. Different pre-processing methods were employed in the development of calibration models. The best calibration model was that using partial least squares as the regression algorithm in association with Multiplicative Scattering Correction as the spectrum pre-processing method. The model estimators were: coefficient of determination (R²) 0.9815, standard error of cross validation 2.0346 and a factor of 5. The chosen model correlated well with the prediction results in accordance with the Mahalabinos distance limits. The developed NIR method allows the estimation of the amount of efavirenz in tablets without sample preparation thus proving to be a simple, fast and suitable method for the quantitative assay of efavirenz in uncoated tablets. Hence, NIR coupled with chemometric methods can be used for on-line, in-line or at-line monitoring of the manufacturing process and are helpful in achieving the goals of Process Analytical Technology.Keywords: Near Infrared Spectroscopy, chemometrics, multivariate data analysis, efavirenz, Partial Least Squares, cross validatio

Isolation and Characterization of Larvicidal Phenolic Acids from Kotschya thymodora Leaves

Malaria is a vector borne disease responsible for high morbidity, mortality and poverty in many tropical and subtropical countries. The disease is transmitted through a bite from an infected female Anopheles mosquito, amongst which Anopheles gambiae s.s serves as the most prevalent vector. The control of An. gambiae s.s population can therefore lead to a reduction in malaria spreading. Previous studies have reported the crude extracts of Kotschya thymodora to be active against the larvae of An. gambiae s.s and Culex quinquefasciatus . In this report the phytochemical study on the crude aqueous ethanolic extract of K. thymodora leaves led to isolation of vanillic acid (1) and protocatechuic acid (2). The structures of these compounds and mosquitoes larvicidal activity against An. gambiae s.s were established by using spectroscopic techniques and WHO protocol of 1996 respectively. The two phenolic acids exhibited a moderate mosquito larvicidal activity with LC50 of 77.35 \u3bcg/mL (vanillic acid, 1) and 62.4 \u3bcg/mL (protocatechuic acid, 2) after 48 hrs exposure time. This is the first report on the isolation of the two phenolic acids from plants belonging to the genus Kotschya and their larvicidal potential against An. gambiae s.s