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Research Article
Comparative Costs of
Antibacterial Usage in Sexually Transmitted Infections
in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital
Ismail A Suleiman1*
and Fola Tayo2
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy
Practice, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island,
PMB 071, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
2Department of Clinical Pharmacy and
Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos,
College of Medicine Campus, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
*For correspondence:
E-mail:
suleimanismail@yahoo.com Tel:
+234-8023433337
Received: 9
June 2010
Revised accepted: 11 October 2010
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, December 2010;
9(6):
549-555
Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the cost of
antibacterial usage to patients in a tertiary health
facility in Nigeria.
Methods:
Drug utilization
evaluation was carried out retrospectively among
patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
over a one-year period between 2005 and 2006 in Lagos
University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Nigeria. Case notes
numbering 230 and containing 317 prescriptions were
sampled consecutively with the aid of diagnostic coding
cards. Relevant data including case demographics,
diagnosis, prescribed drugs, and dosages were extracted
and the associated costs analysed.
Results:
A majority of the patients (82.3 %) were youths aged 21
- 40 years. Higher prevalence was observed among male
patients (70.2 %). The proportion of drugs prescribed in
generic and branded names were 82.1 and 17.9 %,
respectively. Total number of antibacterial doses was
7284 at a total cost of NGN239,420.00 (US$1,841.69).
Average antibacterial cost per patient was NGN1,040.96
(US$8.00). Quinolones were the most widely prescribed
class of antibacterial agents (31.1 % of cases) at a
cost of NGN81,646.00 (US$628.05) representing 34.1% of
the total antibacterial cost to patients.
Conclusion:
This study indicates that antibacterial cost was high,
relative to the purchasing power of the local populace,
a large proportion of whom live below the poverty line
(US$1.00 per day). Furthermore, a greater proportion of
the antibacterial cost was due to a few agents, the use
of which should be evidence-based and closely monitored.
Keywords:
Antibacterial therapy, Cost, Antibacterial utilization,
Infectious diseases. |
