Assessment of a 1-year teaching programme in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Summary We assessed whether a 1-year teaching programme in northern Zanzibar would improve prescribing practice. Data on polypharmacy and appropriateness of the treatment of upper-respiratory infection, anaemia, and scabies from the 17 primary health-care units in northern Zanzibar were analysed before and after the teaching programme. There was a significant and sustained reduction in polypharmacy and an improvement in the treatment of upper-respiratory infection, scabies, and anaemia. This teaching programme has been successful in improving prescribing practices in a less-developed country.