African Journals Online
East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences  

Volume 5 No.1 April 2002
ISSN 1026-552X
ABSTRACTS

Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Management Among Pharmacists in Dar es Salaam Tanzania: A Case Study

M. Justin-Temu¹*, R. Majura¹, F. Damian¹, K.I.J. Pallangyo² And E.F. Lyamuya²

¹Faculty of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

²Faculty of Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 65010, Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out if pharmacists are conversant with the management of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and whether they use their knowledge appropriately in managing their clients with STDs syndromes. A comparison was made between community pharmacists who graduated before and after the introduction of STDs/HIV management program in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1992. The aim was also to find out if these pharmacists have attended any training on STDs management after their formal training, and whether they are able to make correct diagnosis and give the right drug(s) to their clients suffering from STDs. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to eighty-seven pharmacists operating in Dar es Salaam. The response was 74.7% (n=65), with female to male ratio of 1:1.8. Of the responding pharmacists, 73.8% reported to have had formal training on STDs management during their undergraduate course. All pharmacists reported that they normally see clients at their pharmacies with complaints suggestive of STDs. All pharmacists were able to list three or more STDs. About 65% of post-curricula pharmacists were able to list one or more STDs causative agents. Ninety four and hundred percent of pre- and post-curricular pharmacists, respectively were found to give the right drug(s) for various STDs. Twenty seven percent post- and 64.7% pre-curricula pharmacists had attended training on STDs management since they graduated.

Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide and Rifampicin on a Reversed-Phase Silica Column

G.N. Thoithi¹*, I.O. Kibwage¹, O. King’ondu¹ And J. Hoogmartens²

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi,

 P. O. Box 19676, Nairobi. Kenya.

²Laboratorium voor Farmaceutische Chemie en Analyse van Geneesmiddelen, Faculteit Farmaceutische Wetenschappen, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. E. Van Evenstraat 4, 3000 Leuven. Belgium.

Abstract

A gradient liquid chromatographic method which can separate isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin is described. A Hypersil C₁₈, 5 mm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm internal diameter column was maintained at 40°C. The method was developed by systematic evaluation of the influence of the buffer concentration, column temperature and the mobile phase pH. The method proposed uses isocratic elution with potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0; 0.05 M) for 10 min, followed by linear gradient to potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0; 0.05 M)-methanol (40:60, v/v) in 5 min, isocratic elution at the same composition for a further 15 min and then linear gradient back to potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0; 0.05 M) in 5 min. The flow-rate was 1 ml/min and UV detection was at 254 nm. The method was validated and it has been used for routine analysis of tablets containing isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin. Analysis time is 35 minutes.

The Antimalarial and Antimicrobial Activity and Brine Shrimp Toxicity of Clematis Brachiata Extracts

F.A. Okalebo¹*, H.A. Rabah¹, A.N. Guantai¹, C.K. Maitai¹, I.O. Kibwage², J.W. Mwangi¹ and W. Masengo¹

¹Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya.

The in vitro antimalarial activity of the root extract in partly supports the ethnobotanical use of the plant to manage malaria. Clematis brachiata Thunberg (Ranunculaceae) is used in Kenya for the management of headaches, malaria and other febrile illnesses, abdominal disorders, yaws and for skin disorders. Old stems and leaves are chewed for the management of toothaches and sore throats. Extracts of the plant were subjected to tests for antimalarial, antibacterial and antifungal activity. The toxicity of the extracts was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The root extract gave the highest in vitro antimalarial activity against the mulitidrug resistant strain, Plasmodium falciparum VI/S (IC₅₀=39.24 mg/ml). The stem and leaf extracts had insignificant antiplasmodial activity. The leaf, stem and root extracts had no bacterial or fungal inhibitory effects even at very high concentrations of 10 mg/ml. The LD₅₀ values of the stem and leaf methanol extracts against the brine shrimp larvae was 365.60 and 66.5 mg/ml, respectively.

Perception on the Use of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Tablets in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Adult Malaria Patients Residing in Dar es Salaam

V. Mugoyela¹*, R. David¹ And O.M.S. Minzi²

¹ Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University College of

 Health Sciences (MUCHS), P.O Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

² Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Muhimbili University College of

 Health Sciences, P.O Box 65010, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A prospective study on assessment of perceived efficacy and side effects of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) tablets in two hundred and twenty eight adult malaria patients in Dar es Salaam region was carried out shortly before the drug was introduced as a first line treatment for malaria in Tanzania. Sources and dispensing practices with SP in the private community pharmacies were also assessed. The study revealed that 80.3% of the patients were relieved from malaria symptoms and 19.7% did not feel any relief after using the drug. Further, the results showed that 39.5% of the patients did not experience side effects while 60.5% experienced them. Among the affected respondents 25.4% suffered from body malaise, 21.0% had diarrhoea, and 29.7% experienced nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, 17.4% suffered headache and abdominal discomfort and 6.5% experienced inflammation of the lips. The results revealed that 60% of the patients obtained SP drugs from private community pharmacies without prescriptions while 40% obtained the drug with prescriptions. 83.2% of the patients obtained SP from them community pharmacies, 13.9% from government hospital pharmacies and 2.9% from home leftover medicine reserves.