Abstract:
The most important drawback to successful control of malaria is the
development of resistance by Plasmodium species to commonly used
antimalarial drugs. To enhance effective treatment, many African nations
including Ghana changed its malaria treatment policy from monotherapy to
combination treatment with Artesunate + Amodiaquine (AS+AQ). The policy
specifies AS+AQ as the first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. There
has been public outcry due to the perceived side effects of the drug.
The study was carried out to assess community’s perceptions of AS+
AQ for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. The study was carried out in
Anakyin community in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Semi-structured
questionnaires were used to assess views of the respondents on AS+ AQ.
A quantitative descriptive design was employed using semi-structured
interviews. Two hundred and sixty (260) people out of the total population of
860 were interviewed using Kirk scale.
Adherence to the three-day treatment regimen of AS+AQ was very high
(81.5%) in this study and 60.4% of the respondents believed artesunate +
amodiaquine is good.
Respondents were of the view that AS+AQ is efficacious in the
treatment of uncomplicated malaria. However, the respondents reported some
side effects (drowsiness and weakness).
Further, there is high awareness among the respondents of the new
policy. It is however recommended that, there must be an intensive education
to disabuse the minds of the general public on the perceived adverse effects of
AS+ AQ.
