Categorical Data Analysis on the Use of Antimalarial Drugs on Adult Patients in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Abstract

Anti-malarial drugs are drugs used to treat or prevent malaria in endemic countries. The purpose of this work was aimed at analyzing the use of anti-malarial drugs on adult patients in Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 5230 patients’ folder from available records which consisted of 2458 and 2772 male and females respectively. An archival-descriptive research design was used which enabled the study obtained data from General Out Patient Department (GOPD). Data obtained were analyzed by using tables, bar chart, pie chart and chi-square statistical test. Four null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance which HO₁ was retained, while HO₂, HO₃, and HO₄ were rejected at df₃ of critical X² value of 7.815. Result from the analysis of sex ratio gave male-female ratio was 89:100, indicating more females were treated however the difference was not significant. It was tested and observed that four different categories of anti-malarial drugs were used in the year 2012 and all the used anti-malarial drugs showed side effects. Meanwhile, Artemisinin Combination Therapy was most frequently used in the health facilities. Based on the findings, conclusions were drawn  and recommendation were made that government, World Health Organization and other non-governmental agencies should  hasten the development of malaria vaccine and ACTs should be available at all times for the treatment of adult patients with malaria.

Keywords: categorical data, antimalarial drugs, general out-patient department (GOPD), malaria.