A qualitative study exploring perspectives towards rational use of medicines in Pakistan's Malaria Control Program (MCP)

Malaria is one of the most important global public health problems threatening the health of the population owing to prevailing socio-economic conditions and epidemiological reasons in Pakistan. This qualitative study has focused on the perspectives held towards the rational use of medicine intervention among malaria control program officials. Eight semi-structured interviews with all officials working for the malaria control program in Islamabad were conducted. The interviews, which were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim, were evaluated by thematic content analysis and by all authors. All respondents agreed on successful implementation of the malaria control program in Pakistan for controlling malaria by improving diagnostic and treatment facilities and promoting rational case management through training of prescribers. However, funding is still the major challenge faced by the program for its future implementation.

A malária é um dos mais importantes problemas sanitários globais, que ameaça a saúde população devido às condições socioeconômicas e por razões epidemiológicas no Paquistão. Este estudo qualitativo focou-se nas perspectivas no sentido do uso racional da intervenção médica entre os funcionários do programa de controle da malária. Oito entrevistas semiestruturas com todos os funcionários que trabalham no programa de controle da malária foram conduzidas em Islamabad. As entrevistas, que eram gravadas e transcritas, foram avaliadas por análise temática do conteúdo e por todos os autores. Todos os respondentes concordaram com o êxito da implementação do programa de controle da malária no Paquistão por meio do aprimoramento do diagnóstico e de facilidades do tratamento, promovendo a gestão racional por meio do treinamento dos prescritores. Entretanto, o financiamento é, ainda, o principal desafio enfrentado para a implementação futura do programa.

Evaluation of the malaria control program in Vietnam in the period 2000-2007

Background: National malaria preventive and control program is rather successful, but the special result has not been accurately analyzed.\r\n', u'Objectives: to evaluate of the malaria situation for the period of 2000-2007 in Viet Nam.\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from malaria information system.\r\n', u'Results: On annual average, about 140.000 to 150.000 patients are diagnosed as malaria. Annual malaria morbidity is greatly reduced from 6.91/1000 in 2000 to 2.21/ 1000 population in 2007. The deaths in children accounted for 30 to 40% of the total malaria deaths of the whole country. The annual average number of malaria cases treated is about 150.000 to 160.000 and it is decreased by year. Artemisinine based Combination Therapy (ACT) for P.falciparum cases is 18 - 20% of the total patients. \r\n', u'From 2000 to 2007, on average, about 1.5 to 2 million of people in the malaria endemic, high risk areas were protected by Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) annually. The coverage of protected population tends to be reduced from 6.7% to 5.9 % of population at risk of malaria. \r\n', u'The annual average number of population protected by Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) is from 8.5 to 11.5 million and the coverage of ITNs is increasing from 23.6% to 31.0% of population in malaria endemic areas. . \r\n', u'Conclusion:From 2000 to 2007, the malaria in Vietnam continues to be decreased in term of morbidity and mortality.\r\n', u'