Trends in malaria chemoprophylaxis prescription in South Africa, 1994-2000

Abstract

[Extract] The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million cases of malaria exist worldwide each year, resulting in more than 3 million deaths, with more than 1 million deaths of children in sub-Saharan Africa alone.1 Malaria is also a reemerging disease in some parts of Africa, including South Africa.2,3 Malaria prevention is multi-faceted with no single precaution offering complete protection.Taking chemoprophylaxis decreases the severity and frequency of death from malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum when compared with taking no chemoprophylaxis.