Assessment of a 1-year teaching programme in Zanzibar, Tanzania

We assessed whether a 1-year teaching programme in northern Zanzibar would improve prescribing practice. Data on polypharmacy and appropriateness of t he treatment of upper-respiratory infection, anaemia, and scabies from the 17 primary health-care units in northern Zanzibar were analysed before and after the teaching programme. There was a significant and sustained reducti on in polypharmacy and an: improvement in the treatment of upper-respirator y infection, scabies, and anaemia, This teaching programme has been success ful in improving prescribing practices in a less-developed country.