MEDICAL DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERNS FOR FEBRILE PATIENTS IN RURAL-AREASOF MEXICO

The objective of this study was to evaluate the medication pattern of febrile patients and determine what proportion of these drugs were inc luded in the Mexican Essential Drugs List. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 32 rural communities located in malarial endemic areas n ear the Mexico - Guatemala border. Of 817 febrile patients interviewed , 55% self-medicated, while 16% consulted a physician. The most freque ntly used drugs were antipyretics (68%), antibiotics (25%), and antima larial drugs (37%), despite the fact that only 2% of all febrile patie nts were diagnosed with malaria. Antipyrine, acetylsalicylic acid, and acetaminophen represented 84% of antipyretics, and ampicillin, penici llin, and sulfadiazine-trimethoprim represented 51% of rotal antibioti cs. Public health service and self-medicating patients used essential drugs (antipyretics and antibiotics) significantly more than those con sulting private physicians. These findings demonstrate the need to fos ter access to primary health care (PHC) facilities, rational drug pres cription by private physicians, and to review guidelines for prescript ion of antimalarial drugs for febrile patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce Inc.