Opinion and uptake of chloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 during the mandatory lockdown in the sub-Saharan African region.

Uchechukwu L Osuagwu,Tanko Ishaya,Raymond Langsi,Chikasirimobi Timothy,Bernadine Ekpenyong,Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo,Miner A Chundung,Emmanuel Kwasi Abu,Obinna Nwaeze,Deborah Charwe,Kingsley E Agho,Khathutshelo P Mashige,Richard Oloruntoba

doi:10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2795

Abstract

BackgroundAs the search for effective treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection continues, the public opinion around the potential use of chloroquine (CQ) in treating COVID-19 remains mixed.AimTo examine opinion and uptake of CQ for treating COVID-19 in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region.SettingThis study was conducted through an online survey software titled SurveyMonkey.MethodsAnonymous online survey of 1829 SSA countries was conducted during the lockdown period using Facebook, WhatsApp and authors’ networks. Opinion and uptake of CQ for COVID-19 treatment were assessed using multivariate analyses.ResultsAbout 14% of respondents believed that CQ could treat COVID-19 and of which, 3.2% took CQ for COVID-19 treatment. Multivariate analyses revealed that respondents from Central (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43, 4.43) and West Africa (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.15, 2.88) had higher odds of believing that CQ could treat COVID-19. Respondents from East Africa reported higher odds for uptake of CQ for COVID-19 than Central, Western and Southern Africans. Knowledge of the disease and compliance with the public health advice were associated with both belief and uptake of CQ for COVID-19 treatment.ConclusionCentral and West African respondents were more likely to believe in CQ as a treatment for COVID-19 whilst the uptake of the medication during the pandemic was higher amongst East Africans. Future intervention discouraging the unsupervised use of CQ should target respondents from Central, West and East African regions.

Highlights

Global public health authorities must combat dangerous and unproven theories about the use of the antimalarial, chloroquine (CQ), for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections despite lack of evidence
The study assumed a proportion of 50% because the main objective of this research was on COVID-19 and no previous study from the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region has examined factors associated with belief and uptake of CQ as a cure for COVID-19 during the pandemic
Studies in Africa have shown a significant association between higher levels of education and positive knowledge, attitude and practice towards diseases like malaria,[41] as well as with recognition and appropriate treatment of diseases,[42,43] we found no association between level of education and both perception and uptake of CQ for COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

Global public health authorities must combat dangerous and unproven theories about the use of the antimalarial, chloroquine (CQ), for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections despite lack of evidence. There is a narrow margin between the therapeutic and toxic dose, and CQ poisoning has been associated with life-threatening cardiovascular disorders and[11] irreversible blindness from CQ retinopathy.[12] treatment with HCQ has been associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 in New York State.[1] Chloroquine is proven effective as an antimalarial, amoebicide and antirheumatic, and its possible adverse reactions are well documented.[13] The use of this medication outside of these conditions should be appropriately monitored in the hospital as required by the Emergency Usage Authorisation (EUA) or in a clinical trial with appropriate screening and monitoring.[14,15]. As the search for effective treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection continues, the public opinion around the potential use of chloroquine (CQ) in treating COVID-19 remains mixed

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