Table 3

Summary of anti-malarial services provided by the private health service providers in the three study districts in Somalia

Gebiley

n = 54

Garowe/Burtinle

n = 53

Merka

n = 87

Total

n = 194

Do not provide malaria diagnosis and treatment

4 (8%)

0 (0%)

4 (5%)

8 (4.1%)

Pharmacy stocks and prescribes as first line treatment for malaria

AS-SP

5 (9%)

9 (18%)

3 (3%)

17 (8.8%)

SP

20 (37%)

4 (8%)

12 (14%)

18 (9.3%)

Chloroquine

24 (44%)

18 (34%)

61 (70%)

103 (53.1%)

Quinine

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

2 (2%)

3 (1.5%)

Cotecxin^®

0 (0%)

22 (42%)

5 (6%)

27 (13.9%)

Provide parasitological services*

RDT

10 (18.5%)

7 (13.2%)

7 (8.0%)

24 (12.3%)

Microscopy

14 (25.9%)

16 (30.2%)

7 (8.0%)

37 (19.1%)

SP = sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine; AS-SP = artesunate and SP; RDT = rapid diagnostic test

*an additional 22 pharmacies which did not have an attached laboratory used rapid diagnostic tests for parasitological diagnosis of malaria

Noor et al. Malaria Journal 2009 8:100   doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-100