Abstract:
Back ground:Irrational drug prescribing is a global problem. It results in development of resistance
to antimicrobials, ineffective treatment, adverse effects and economic burden on patient and society.
Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the use of drugs for treatment of sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) and to determine their prevalence in the White Nile State-Sudan
2002-2003.
Material and Methods: Twenty urban health centers were selected randomly, 30 prescriptions
were collected from each health center and assessed against recommended standard therapy.
Results: The appropriate drug therapy according to diagnosis was selected in only 10.6% of the
collected prescriptions, only 42.2% of them were with appropriate doses and duration of therapy,
poly pharmacy was detected in 28.8%, generic prescribing in 35.5% and possible drug- drug
interactions in 17.3% of the total collected sample. The prevalence of STDs among total patients
was 1.9%. 78.8% of the cases were females, 59.3% were 15-29 years old and Kenana Health
Centers showed the highest prevalence of STDs 3.4%. (P<0.05)
Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that prescribing practices for the treatment of
STDs were illogical; the reference chart prepared by federal ministry of health Sudan National
HIV/AIDS/STD program must be reevaluated, because it is inappropriate and illogical. Continuous
training courses are urgently needed locally and nationally to raise the updating levels of medical
