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private drug outlets in Bungoma District, Kenya (2003)
BibTeX
@MISC{Tavrow03privatedrug,
author = {Paula Tavrow and Jennifer Shabahang and Sammy Makama and Open Access},
title = {private drug outlets in Bungoma District, Kenya},
year = {2003}
}
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Abstract
© 2003 Tavrow et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL. Background: Private outlets are the main suppliers of uncomplicated malaria treatment in Africa. However, they are so numerous that they are difficult for governments to influence and regulate. This study's objective was to evaluate a low-cost outreach education (vendor-to-vendor) programme to improve the private sector's compliance with malaria guidelines in Bungoma district, Kenya. The cornerstone of the programme was the district's training of 73 wholesalers who were equipped with customized job aids for distribution to small retailers. Methods: Six months after training the wholesalers, the programme was evaluated using mystery shoppers. The shoppers posed as caretakers of sick children needing medication at 252 drug outlets. Afterwards, supervisors assessed the outlets ' knowledge, drug stocks, and prices. Results: The intervention seems to have had a significant impact on stocking patterns, malaria knowledge and prescribing practices of shops/kiosks, but not consistently on other types of outlets. About 32 % of shops receiving job aids prescribed to mystery shoppers the approved first-line drug,
Keyphrases
bungoma district private drug outlet approved first-line drug private sector sick child low-cost outreach education prescribing practice drug outlet small retailer uncomplicated malaria treatment significant impact customized job aid mystery shopper job aid private outlet malaria knowledge drug stock malaria guideline verbatim copying shop kiosk original url main supplier open access article biomed central ltd
