From atabrine in World War II to mefloquine in somalia: The role of education in preventive medicine

Abstract

Preventive medicine requires an understanding not only of the disease to be prevented, but a complete understanding of conditions affecting the disease transmission, human nature, and the historic situation of the target group. An analysis of a new drug introduction (Atabrine) during World War II is viewed from multiple perspectives and is compared with the introduction of mefloquine during the mission to Somalia 50 years later. Common themes of educational failure at the end-user and policy-maker levels are shown as barriers to effective preventive medicine efforts.