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The prevalence of malaria in Mefloquine hydrochloride - mefliam ® users during the deployment of military forces in Burundi, East Africa

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dc.contributor.advisor Roberts, H.
dc.contributor.advisor Van der Westhuizen, C.
dc.contributor.advisor De Beer, H.
dc.contributor.author Basson, Eldrian
dc.contributor.other Central University of Technology, Free State. School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
dc.date.accessioned 2014-10-10T11:31:45Z
dc.date.available 2014-10-10T11:31:45Z
dc.date.issued 2007
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/11462/87
dc.description Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007 en_US
dc.description.abstract Malaria and the mosquito that induces the disease in humans have hounded the military for decades. Malaria represents one of the most important infectious disease threats to deployed military forces. Malaria in soldiers has a serious economic impact, both in terms of lost productivity and treatment cost for the state. A contingent of South African National Defence Force members has been deployed in Burundi since November 2001, as part of a peacekeeping mission. At the time of the study no information was available regarding the prevalence of malaria among military personnel during deployments in Burundi and East Africa. In Africa, the saying is that malaria is the disease of poverty and a cause of poverty. To combat malaria, it is of vital importance that the recommended medication be taken exactly as prescribed and that the course is completed. However, one of the greatest challenges facing the African continent in the present fight against malaria is drug resistance. The discovery of Mefloquine and the subsequent development of suitable drugs, have been intimately associated with military imperatives, contingencies and requirements. Since World War II, the development of Chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria has driven the search for new drugs. Mefloquine, developed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the United States, was first shown effective as a prophylaxis and treatment of resistant falciparum malaria in the 1970’s. To obtain data, questionnaires were administered to SANDF soldiers deployed in Burundi, East Africa. The total size of the population under investigation was 336 with a final sample size of 111 respondents. The sample was selected by using simple random sampling. The questionnaire aimed to determine the perception of respondents regarding the malaria threat, their compliance with taking the medication, and their experiencing of possible side-effects which might occur due to the chemoprophylaxis and the prophylactic efficacy of Mefliam®. The fact that, of the 111 people who used Mefliam®, only four presented with any malaria symptoms, is an indicator that Mefliam® is an effective option as an antimalarial drug to be used in East Africa and Burundi. The results of this study will be used by the personnel of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other military forces deployed in East Africa. It is envisaged that the results will be used by military policy- and decision-makers as a control programme and by others involved in the control of malaria. The findings and recommendations should also be of interest to anyone visiting the area. en_US
dc.format.extent 655 499 bytes
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.language.iso en_US en_US
dc.publisher Bloemfontein : Central University of Technology, Free State
dc.subject Central University of Technology, Free State - Dissertations en_US
dc.subject Soldiers - Africa - Malaria - Prevention en_US
dc.subject Medicine, Preventive en_US
dc.subject Malaria - Prevention en_US
dc.subject Mefloquine en_US
dc.subject Dissertations, academic - South Africa - Bloemfontein en_US
dc.title The prevalence of malaria in Mefloquine hydrochloride - mefliam ® users during the deployment of military forces in Burundi, East Africa en_US
dc.type Thesis en_US
dc.rights.holder Central University of Technology, Free State


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