Resumen

LLANOS-ZAVALAGA, Fernando; COTRINA R, Armando  y  CAMPANA S, Pilar. Factores asociados a la adherencia al tratamiento de Malaria en Piura y Tumbes-Perú. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica [online]. 2001, vol.18, n.3-4, pp.63-70. ISSN 1726-4634.

The World Health Organization considers early and adequate treatment as a basic strategy of the malaria control program. One problem associated to this strategy is antimalarial drug resistance mainly observed in P. falciparum. Objective: To determine social, cultural and health supply factors associated to malaria treatment compliance, both from the providers and users perspectives at communities in the Piura and Tumbes departments in Peru. Materials and methods: A qualitative crosssectional study was performed in communities in Piura and Tumbes departments during February and March 2000. Information was gathered through focus groups and in-depth interviews, using the saturation criterion. These interviews were taped, copied, reviewed and coded considering topics of interest, using the Atlas-ti software. Results and Conclusions: There are factors positively or negatively influencing malaria treatment compliance. Among the former, the following were identified: Consciousness of illness, knowledge of risk for developing complications, confidence on drug effectiveness, easy and short drug dosing, directly observed and free therapy, as well as the role of health promoters. Among factors with a negative influence, the following were identified: fast symptom recovery, occurrence of drug adverse reaction(s), being part of a migrant population with predominant agricultural activities, poor accessibility, poor quality of health care and self-medication.

Palabras clave : Malaria; therapy; Epidemiologic factors; Peru.