Diagnoses and prescriptions for patients managed during a free health care day in Eldoret, Kenya
Nabiswa, A.K.; Godfrey, R.C.
East African Medical Journal 71(6): 363-365
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 7835255 Document Number: 423482
Diagnoses and prescriptions for 2,218 patients seen during a "Free Health Care Day" in a semi-urban African town were reviewed. There was a marked tendency to over-prescription, coupled with a failure to use available laboratory tests to diagnose conditions such as malaria and intestinal parasites. Only 37 of 413 patients with malaria had a diagnostic blood smear (17 positive, 20 negative) done. Nevertheless, many patients without any clear diagnosis received multiple drugs. The mean number of drugs prescribed was two; and three or more drugs were prescribed for 677 (33%) patients. The adverse pharmacological and financial aspects of excessive drug prescription are stressed in this communication.