An assessment of infant medication administration and storage practices in selected communities in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Aspen D Flynn,Stephen E Gerrard,Geoff Galgon,Rebekah L Scheuerle,Vhonani O Netshandama

doi:10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1075

Abstract

BackgroundEffective infant medication administration and storage is a major public health challenge outlined by the World Health Organization. These challenges may be exacerbated in rural or limited-resource areas.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate infant medication administration and storage practices.SettingThis study took place in selected communities in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa.MethodData was collected through 39 semi-structured interviews with infant caretakers and rural health workers. Interviews were recorded when permission was given by participants. Interviews were transcribed and coded using grounded theory and Tesch’s model of data analysis. Themes were agreed upon through consensus discussions with the researchers and an independent coder.ResultsSix themes that affect current infant medication administration and storage practices in the Vhembe District were identified: access to infant healthcare, the role of health workers, the devices used in the administration of infant medication, reluctance of the infant to take the medication, storage and reuse of infant medication in the rural home and hygiene practices surrounding infant medication administration.ConclusionsMany factors were found to affect infant medication administration and storage practices in in the Vhembe District. Substantial evidence was found to suggest that the relationship between rural health workers and infant caretakers strongly influences these practices: a great amount of reliance and trust is placed in the health worker. Ensuring proper dosage of infant medication in the rural household arose as a main concern of participants. Reuse of medication in the home and home hygiene practices surrounding infant medication administration are areas of potential future research. This future research may further inform recommendations for infant medication administration and storage practices in the Vhembe District.

Highlights

Infant medication administration and storage are major public health challenges worldwide (WHO 2011)
Some infant medication is available in the form of a solid oral dispersible tablet, which must be dispersed in clean water or milk in a clean container before being administered as above (UNICEF 2010b)
The themes were access to infant healthcare, the role of health workers (HWs), the devices used in the administration of infant medication, reluctance of the infant to take the medication, storage and reuse of infant medication in the rural home, and hygiene practices surrounding infant medication administration

Summary

Introduction

Infant medication administration and storage are major public health challenges worldwide (WHO 2011). Most infant medications are administered as a liquid using an oral syringe, dosing cup or medication spoon (Sobhani et al 2008; Walsh, Bickmann, Breitkreutz, Chariot-Goulet & EuPFI 2011). These methods can all lead to errors in dosing (Sobhani et al 2008; Truter, Schellack & Meyer 2017; Walsh et al 2011). Three major causes of disease in children younger than 5 years in South Africa are HIV/AIDS, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases (WHO 2014) Treatment for these diseases in infants includes delivering a medication through one of the methods described above. These challenges may be exacerbated in rural or limited-resource areas

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