Homegrown Antimalarial Medicines in Tanzanian Rural Health Centres: A Comparative Study

Malaria remains a significant public health issue in Tanzania's rural areas. Homegrown antimalarial medicines (HAMs) are an underutilized resource for treating malaria, which is often due to lack of awareness and limited availability. A mixed-method study was conducted, including surveys, interviews, and medical record review among healthcare providers and patients. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. HAMs use increased by 30% in the intervention group compared to control, with a high level of acceptance reported based on patient satisfaction scores (mean score = 8.5 out of 10). The findings suggest that HAMs can be effectively integrated into routine malaria treatment protocols. Rural health centers should be provided with training and resources to support the use and efficacy assessment of HAMs in treating malaria.