ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of prescription pattern in Osun State (Southwest) Nigeria
Babalola C. P.1*, Awoleye S. A.2, Akinyemi J. O.3 and Kotila O. A.1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
2Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharamcy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
3Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Accepted 21 October, 2018
Abstract
Drug therapy is the most commonly used method of any disease treatment in general practice. However, the patterns of drug prescription are often inappropriate and the need for registration of these patterns is essential in an effort to improve prescription standards. Retrospective analysis of prescriptions written by various cadres in primary health care department with emphasis on primary health care centers, dispensaries and health posts in four randomly selected local government areas were collected over a period of one year (March 2006 to February 2007). Data was collected using a standardized WHO instrument for studies of rational drug use. The average number of drugs per encounter was 6.11 with 69.81% drugs prescribed by generic names. The use of antibiotics (50.10% of encounters) and injections (72.70% of encounters) was relatively high. About ninety four percent(94%) of drugs prescribed were from the essential drugs list. It is obvious that poly pharmacy is high at the grassroots level coupled with shortage of high skilled manpower. The use of antibiotics and injections is also very high. Recruitment of skilled personnel and continuing educational programs for primary health care workers is recommended.
Key words: Prescription pattern, injections, antibiotics, primary health care.