Knowledge and practices of private pharmacy auxiliaries on malaria in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of resistance to artemisinin derivatives in Southeast Asia constitutes a serious threat for other malaria endemic areas, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire. To delay this resistance, the application of the control measures recommended by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) for a correct management, in the private pharmacies, is a necessity. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to assess the level of knowledge and practices of private pharmacy auxiliary in Abidjan about the management of malaria. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to November 2015. It included auxiliaries of private pharmacies in Abidjan. Data collection material was a structured an open pretested questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 21.1. Chi square test was used to compare proportions for a significance threshold of 0.05 for the p value. RESULTS: A total, 447 auxiliaries from 163 private pharmacies were interviewed. It was noted that the auxiliaries had a good knowledge of clinical signs of uncomplicated malaria (99.1%), biological examinations (54.6% for the thick film and 40.7% for rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and anti-malarial drugs (99.3% for artemether + lumefantrine, AL). The strategies of vector control (long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLITNs, Repellent ointments, cleaning gutters, elimination of larvae breeding site and intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in pregnant women were also known by the auxiliaries, respectively 99.8% and 77.4%. However, the malaria pathogen (25.1%) and the NMCP recommendations (e.g. use of AL or AS + AQ as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria and IPTp-SP in pregnant women) were not well known by the auxiliaries (28.2% and 26.9% for uncomplicated and severe malaria). Concerning the practices of the auxiliaries, 91.1% offered anti-malarial drugs to patients without a prescription and 47.3% mentioned incorrect dosages. The combination artemether + lumefantrine was the most recommended (91.3%). The delivery of anti-malarial drugs was rarely accompanied by advice on malaria prevention, neither was it carried out on the result of an RDT. CONCLUSION: The epidemiology and the NMCP recommendations for the diagnostic and therapeutic management of malaria, are not well known to auxiliaries, which may have implications for their practices. These results show the need to sensitize and train private pharmacy auxiliaries, and also to involve them in NMCP activities.

Molecular epidemiology of non-falciparum Plasmodium infections in three different areas of the Ivory Coast.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major public health problem, particularly in the tropical regions of America, Africa and Asia. Plasmodium falciparum is not only the most widespread but also the most deadly species. The share of Plasmodium infections caused by the other species (Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae) is clearly underestimated. The objective of the study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of plasmodial infection due to P. malariae and P. ovale in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional. The study participants were recruited from Abengourou, San Pedro and Grand-Bassam. Sample collection took place from May 2015 to April 2016. Questionnaires were administered and filter paper blood samples were collected for parasite DNA extraction. The molecular analysis was carried out from February to March 2021. A nested PCR was used for species diagnosis. The data was presented in frequencies and proportions. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients were recruited, including 179 men (49,7%) for 181 women (50,3%). The overall Plasmodium positive rate was 72.5% (261/360). The specific index was 77.4% and 1.5% for P. falciparum and P. malariae in mono-infection, respectively. There was also 15% P. falciparum and P. malariae co-infection, 3.4% P. falciparum and P. ovale co-infection and 2.3% P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale triple-infection. Typing of P. ovale subspecies showed a significant predominance of P. ovale curtisi (81.2% of cases). CONCLUSION: Plasmodium falciparum remains the most prevalent malaria species in Côte d'Ivoire, but P. malariae and P. ovale are also endemic mostly in co-infection. Malaria elimination requires a better understanding of the specific epidemiological characteristics of P. malariae and P. ovale with a particular emphasis on the identification of asymptomatic carriers.