THE MANAGEMENT OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA IS NOT STANDARDIZED

We evaluated the management of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in 2 regional level hospitals and 4 district hospitals of the Central Regio n of Ghana. We retrospectively reviewed 208 case notes of inpatients c linically diagnosed with PID and interviewed 25 clinicians at these ho spitals. Overall, 20 antibiotics were prescribed in 62 different regim ens. Between 9 and 26 antibiotic regimens were prescribed in each hosp ital. Metronidazole, gentamicin, amoxycillin, ampicillin, benzylpenici llin and tetracycline were frequently prescribed while the recommended anti-gonococcal antibiotics, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone, were rare ly prescribed. The commonest regimens were prescribed for a shorter du ration than recommended. Condom promotion, partner notification and ma nagement were scarcely or never undertaken. Fifty-six per cent of clin icians had never seen the national treatment guidelines; 32% had recei ved in-service training in STD case management. The findings provide t he basis for improving the management of PID in the Central Region of Ghana.