The impact of packaging on adherence to Malaria treatment

Currently, Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) are the only effective treatment remaining for malaria. Although ACTs have a short three-day dosing regimen, over 35 percent of patients do not complete the full course of drugs.
A sticker affixed to standard ACT packaging that informs people that “malaria is not gone until all tablets are finished” significantly increases adherence. Using specialized packaging that includes pictoral instructions for illiterate patients and information designed to raise patients’ confidence in the effectiveness of the medication has no significant effect on medication-taking behaviour or on comprehension of instructions.
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