Antibiotic Use in a Municipal Veterinary Clinic in Ghana.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to public health, impacting both human and animal health as well as the economy. This study sought to describe antibiotic prescription practices and use in the Kintampo North Municipal Veterinary Clinic in Ghana using routinely collected data. Of the 513 animals presented for care between 2013 and 2019, the most common animals were dogs (71.9%), goats (13.1%), and sheep (11.1%). Antibiotics were prescribed for 273/513 (53.2%) of the animals. Tetracycline was the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics, (99.6%). Of the 273 animals that received antibiotics, the route of administration was not documented in 68.9%, and antibiotic doses were missing in the treatment records in 37.7%. Details of the antibiotic regimen and the medical conditions diagnosed were often not recorded (52.8%). This study recommends appropriate documentation to enable continuous audit of antibiotic prescription practice and to improve quality of use. There is also the need for a national survey on antibiotic prescribtion and use in animal health to support policy implementation and decision making in One-Health in Ghana.

Unaffordable drug prices: the major cause of non-compliance with hypertension medication in Ghana.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of hypertension is increasing in Ghana. In addition hypertension has been identified as the most common cause of heart failure, stroke, chronic renal disease and spontaneous sudden deaths in Ghana. A major concern arising from this increasing hypertension prevalence is that many patients in this relatively poor country find it difficult to afford the standard hypertension medications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate access to hypertension medication and assess non-compliance with hypertension medication in Ghana. METHODS: Patient interviews were conducted on all new patients attending the hypertension clinic at Komfo Anokye teaching hospital between December 2001 and April 2002. RESULTS: 93% of the interviewed patients did not comply with their medications. 96% of the non-compliant patients cited unaffordable drug prices as the main reason for non-compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Non-compliance with hypertension medication is a major problem in Ghana. Unaffordable drug prices appear the major cause. Effort should be made both locally and internationally to improve access to medications for chronic diseases in developing countries.