Introduction:

The characteristics of the prescription of antimalarials in hospitals, where malaria is the first cause of mortality and morbidity, are unknown.

Objective:

To characterize the prescription of antimalarials in patients admitted to central and provincial hospitals in Angola.

Methods:

A Study of Drug’s Use was made, type indication-prescription, with elements of a therapeutic scheme. The sample was of 2 634 patients. The main variable (evaluation of the prescription) was operationalized in adequate or not according to the indication, therapeutic guideline and contraindications. Absolute frequency and percentage were used as summary measures.

Results:

The most represented patients were adults (54.1 %) and those admitted in general hospitals (82.6 %). Complicated malaria was predominant (66.6 %) and female sex in children (51.7 %) and adults (51.0 %). There were 4 518 prescriptions. Intravenous quinine (20.4%) was the most used treatment in complicated malaria and quinine tablets (26.5 %) in simple malaria. 94.8% of the prescriptions had no contraindications, while 69.0 % were adequate in their selection and 65.1 % in the therapeutic regimen. The evaluation of the prescription was adequate (55.0 %). Complicated malaria had a greater number of inappropriate prescriptions (47.5 %).

Conclusions:

The existence of irrational prescription of antimalarials is evidenced with more repercussion in complicated malaria. There is still a low use of artemisinin derivatives, in breach of the Guide for Malaria’s Treatment.

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