Publications by authors named "Fernando Benitez-Paez"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how drug sellers in Tanzania and Uganda interacted with clients seeking antibiotics for simulated COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemic, highlighting concerns about antibiotic misuse and resistance.
  • Research assistants acted as clients without prescriptions, approaching various drug sellers to assess their guidance and drug dispensing practices.
  • Results showed that knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms was low in both locations, but drug sellers in Uganda provided better identification of symptoms and were less likely to sell prescription-only medicines without a prescription than those in Tanzania.
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Background: Antibiotic dispensing without prescription is a major determinant of the emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) which has impact on population health and cost of healthcare delivery. This study used simulated clients describing UTI like symptoms to explore compliance with regulation, variations in dispensing practices and drug recommendation, and quality of seller-client interaction on the basis of the gender of the client and the type of drug outlets in three regions in Tanzania.

Method: A total of 672 Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs) and community pharmacies were visited by mystery clients (MCs).

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Worldwide, antimicrobial resistance is increasing rapidly and is associated with misuse of antimicrobials. The HATUA study (a broader 3-country study) investigated the antibiotic dispensing practices of pharmaceutical providers to clients, particularly the propensity to dispense without prescription. A cross-sectional study using a 'mystery client' method was conducted in 1148 community pharmacies and accredited drugs dispensing outlets (ADDO) in Mwanza ( = 612), Mbeya ( = 304) and Kilimanjaro ( = 232) in Tanzania.

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Background: Migratory animals use information from the Earth's magnetic field on their journeys. Geomagnetic navigation has been observed across many taxa, but how animals use geomagnetic information to find their way is still relatively unknown. Most migration studies use a static representation of geomagnetic field and do not consider its temporal variation.

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