Pharmacovigilance of Antimalaria Drug Treatment in Enugu State, Nigeria: Community and Health Workers’ Perceptions and Suggestions for Reporting Adverse Drug Events

Aims: Aim of study was to determine the level of awareness of adverse drug reactions following treatment of malaria and the reporting systems available among community members and health workers and suggestions on how to improve the reporting system in Enugu state, Nigeria.

Study Design: This was a community based descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Enugu Metropolis Enugu State, Nigeria between February and April 2011.

Methodology: A three-stage sampling design was used to select 362 mothers/caregivers from five out of eight districts and 60 health workers from nine primary health centers in the sudy area. The respondents were interviewed using an adapted questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Student t test and Chi square test of statistical significance was used in the analysis.

Results: A higher proportion of the mothers/caregivers (97.2%) were aware of adverse drug reactions when compared with the health workers, (80%). The major source of information for adverse drug reaction for the mothers/caregivers was friends (43.5%). Majority of the them (54.7%) used chloroquine as first line drug for treatment of malaria. The most common adverse event observed by the respondents was itching (35.6%) mainly due to use of chloroquine. Among those that experienced an adverse reaction, majority (75.9%) did nothing about the adverse effect and only a minor proportion, (2.7%) reported to a doctor. The major reason for non reporting of adverse drug reaction was ignorance, (mothers/caregivers, 55.5% and health workers 75.0%) The suggestions for solving the problem of non reporting of adverse reactions were increased public awareness (mothers/ccaregivers 58.8% and health workers 83.3%), and provision of accessible health centers (mothers/caregivers, 23.2% and health workers 16.7%).

Conclusion: Knowledge of adverse events was high from the study but the major problems that affected the reporting of adverse drug events were ignorance and lack of funds. Information education and communication programmes in the communities and among the health workers should be improved. Funds should be made available to health workers to enable timely reporting of adverse drug events. Community surveillance is necessary to ensure timely reporting by members of the community.