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Full Length Research Paper
Drug prescribing
practice in a pediatrics ward in Ethiopian
Asrat Agalu1*
and Hailemeskel Mekonnen2
1Wollo
University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Department of Pharmacy, Dessie, Ethiopia;
2School
of Pharmacy Addis Ababa University
Received 23 April, 2012; Accepted 22 May, 2012
The aim of this study was to assess drug prescribing
practices in Pediatrics ward of Jimma University Specialized
Hospital, (JUSH), southwest Ethiopia, January, 2008. A
retrospective cross sectional study was conducted in
pediatrics ward of Jimma University Specialized Hospital.
Patient cards from January 2004-December 2007 were selected
using random sampling techniques and reviewed using
structured data collection format from January 19-25, 2008.
The rationality of prescribing was compared with standard
treatment guidelines, and different textbooks. The collected
data was edited, coded, tallied and finally cleaned.
Descriptive statistics was computed to meet the stated
objective. On review of 384 sampled cards, 510 individual
drugs were prescribed. Antibiotics 224 (44.9%) and
analgesic/antipyretics 98 (19.2%) were the most commonly
prescribed category of drugs. Paracetamole 86 (18.86%),
Cotrimoxazole 79 (15.5%) and amoxicillin 53 (10.39%) were
the most frequently prescribed drugs. About 261 (67.97%),
265 (51.82%), 63 (12.35%) and 176 (37.51%) of the drugs were
prescribed with correct indication, frequency, duration and
dose respectively. Drugs prescribed by generic name and from
essential drug list of Ethiopia were 82% and 89.8%,
respectively. Generally, there was irrational prescribing
practice of drugs in the pediatric patients of the study
hospital. Prescribers should regularly check completeness of
patient cards and pharmacists should prepare a continuous
health education programs on rational use of drugs and of
course should work in a team sprit with prescribers
Keywords: Drug prescribing, Pediatrics, Patient
cards, Drugs.
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