Community Perception of Antimalarial Associated Weakness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51412/psnnjp.2026.019Keywords:
Nigeria, Asthenia, Weakness, side effect, Antimalarial therapy, MalariaAbstract
Background: Weakness (asthenia) is frequently reported by patients following antimalarial treatment. However, the prevalence and pattern of perceived antimalarial-associated weakness in the community, as well as its potential influence on subsequent antimalarial use, remain poorly evaluated. We assessed the occurrence of weakness attributed to antimalarial therapy among adults and explored its effect on treatment-related decisions.
Methods: Across-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among adults aged 18–60 years with a history of malaria episodes and previous use of antimalarial therapy. Participants were randomly recruited from three population groups in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria: traders at a marketplace, undergraduate students in a university community, and medical doctors at a tertiary hospital. The questionnaire assessed participants' history of malaria and antimalarial treatment, experience of weakness following antimalarial therapy, perceived severity of weakness, treatment discontinuation, and the effect of the experience on subsequent choices of antimalarial medications.
Results: A total of 330 adults participated in the study, comprising 110 traders, 110 undergraduate students, and 110 medical doctors. There were 202 males and 128 females. Overall, 239 (72.4%) participants reported experiencing weakness that they attributed to antimalarial therapy. The reported prevalence was 66.4% among traders, 77.3% among students, and 73.6% among medical doctors. Weakness was attributed to all formulations of antimalarial therapies. Among participants reporting weakness, the experience was perceived as mild to moderate in 82.1%. One hundred and eighty-nine (84.8%) reported that the experience of weakness had resulted in discontinuation of antimalarial therapy. Furthermore, 73 (32.7%) reported avoiding the antimalarial regimen they suspected had caused weakness when subsequently purchasing antimalarial medications.
Conclusion: Perceived antimalarial-associated weakness was highly prevalent among adults surveyed across community, university, and healthcare settings in Ibadan. The experience may adversely affect adherence to antimalarial therapy and influence subsequent treatment choices. Further studies are warranted to better characterize antimalarial-associated weakness, identify contributing factors, and determine its implications for malaria treatment adherence and effectiveness.
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