PAEDIATRIC PRESCRIPTION ANALYSIS IN A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION

In developing countries children comprise of large population proportion. This age group is highly vulnerable to morbidity. Therefore special attention is required for their health. Harmful effects of medicine could easily affect this age group. However, irrational prescription of medicines in this group of patients is reported to be widespread. One of the most documented irrational and excessive uses of antibiotics has mentioned pediatric group. Irrational antibiotic use can lead to antimicrobial resistance, treatment failures, and increased healthcare costs. Prescription analysis is a valid evaluation tool used for the evaluation of prevailing disease and the common use of drug in specific community. 

It was a prospective study. 420 participants were included in the study and the ages ranged were between 28 days to 12 years. Patients who came to avail medical consultations were asked to participate in the study. A written informed consent was signed by the parents or guardians after explaining the purpose of the study. The form was explained to them in their first language. People who were not willing to giving informed consent and those who came for vaccination were not included in the study.

The current study has shown that in primary care level proper policies and steps to make essential drugs is lacking and by fulfilling these issues the rational prescription can be achieved. Regulatory authorities are advised to design a uniform prescription pattern and staff is supposed to follow that to avoid over prescription of antibiotics. Interventions aimed to improve the knowledge and train the staff to follow the proper guidelines and prescription patterns. Further researches are recommended to evaluate the imparting these rules and policies to health care staff.