Журнал тропических болезней и общественного здравоохранения

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Adherence to Medical Guidelines on COVID-19 and Malaria by Pharmacists and Patent Medicine Vendors in Abuja, Nigeria During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Henry Somtochukwu Izu-Unamma, Omotayo Oluranti Ebong*

Background: The novel COVID-19 is a health challenge that has ravaged the world by its easy and quick means of transmission, bringing to a halt a lot of activities, both social and economic and has affected many nations negatively. With the prevalence of malaria, still rife in the tropics and sub-Saharan region and accountable for a significant number of deaths in the region, activities set in place to promote therapeutic and non-therapeutic knowledge about malaria has been hindered by the outbreak of COVID-19, reducing daily human contact between patients and health professionals.

Methods: Structured questionnaires were administered in the month of May 2020 to pharmacists and patent medicine vendors within the axis of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in Abuja, Nigeria. The questionnaires obtained the demographics of each respondent, what health establishments they operate, their knowledge of the COVID-19 and malaria and attitude and practices towards the novel pandemic. The questionnaire also obtained each respondents’ view comparing the clinical manifestations between malaria and COVID-19 and the rate of malaria cases within the area council.

Results: Both the pharmacists and patent medicine vendors within AMAC had good knowledge on the nature and source of COVID-19. Most of the respondents (90%) confirmed that they obeyed the recommended guidelines on the prevention and the spread of the virus. Respondents (88%) also reported similar clinical manifestations between malaria and COVID-19. The rate of malaria (33%) cases was still considered high during the pandemic.

Conclusion: With the outbreak of the COVID-19 in a malaria-endemic country like Nigeria, health professionals are tasked with following the recommended guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while attending to malaria cases and keeping malaria controlled.