ABSTRACT
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections passed from one person to another
during sexual contact though some are also passed from mother to child during pregnancy,
birth or while breast feeding. STIs constitute an important public health problem. The early
detection and treatment of STIs are important aspects of a comprehensive approach to
reducing the spread of HIV. Although public-sector services are available even in the most
resource-poor countries, they are not acceptable to many clients because they do not have
appropriate health personnel or the necessary medicines. Private providers are often preferred
because they are perceived to offer better access and confidentiality, and often have the
reputation of being less stigmatizing than public sector facilities. However, many of these
patients are not managed rationally as their management does not conform to stated
guidelines.
The main aim of this work was to determine the knowledge and practice of the community
pharmacists on pharmaceutical care and syndromic management of STIs and assess the
impact of training. The work also investigated the patronage of STI patients in health
facilities, knowledge and practice of the general public as well as the quality of ciprofloxacin
tablets in pharmacies in the State.
The research project involved community pharmacists, hospitals, general public and drug
quality. It was made up of four (4) studies namely baseline and intervention study on
knowledge and practice of community pharmacists; hospital study on patronage and mode of
management of STI; general public study on knowledge and practice of different population
groups including students and assessment of quality of ciprofloxacin tablets.
The results revealed poor knowledge and practice of community pharmacists about
pharmaceutical care, STI and syndromic management of STI. There was statistically
significant difference in knowledge and practice post intervention. The results also revealed
poor patronage of hospitals by STI patients and that estimated patronage of community
pharmacists is high. The general public survey showed that there was poor knowledge and
practice about STIs and its management and that the doctor, pharmacist and parent/guardian
were important information sources and confidants about STIs. The quality assessment study
revealed that all the products had acceptable physical and physicochemical quality while a
quarter of the brands tested did not comply with the chemical (assay) test.
Management of STI patients can improve with the formalized introduction of pharmaceutical
care and training and monitoring of community pharmacists on STI syndromic management
in the State. Though a few pharmacists are currently engaged in pharmaceutical care, its legal
framework and official adoption for community pharmacists has not been done.
The patronage of STI patients in public hospitals needs to be improved in order to serve more
people as the current level is low. However, the result is similar to patronage levels in other
countries like Ghana and South Africa. In addition, STI knowledge is poor amongst the
public which makes their practice for both prevention and treatment inadequate.
It can be concluded that the educational intervention employed improved the knowledge and
practice of the community pharmacists about pharmaceutical care, STIs and syndromic
management and that the knowledge and practice of the general public about STI and its
management is poor. Public enlightenment programmes should be embarked on especially as
a control measure against the spread of STIs particularly HIV. The quality of ciprofloxacin
tablets found in the pharmacies is largely adequate however manufacturers should be
encouraged to improve on good manufacturing practice (GMP). There is a need to empower
community pharmacists to enable them appropriately manage STIs in practice.
ENILOLOBO, J (2021). Pharmaceutical Care And Syndromic Management Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (Stis) By Community Pharmacists In Lagos.. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/pharmaceutical-care-and-syndromic-management-of-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-by-community-pharmacists-in-lagos
ENILOLOBO, JODA "Pharmaceutical Care And Syndromic Management Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (Stis) By Community Pharmacists In Lagos." Afribary. Afribary, 02 May. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/pharmaceutical-care-and-syndromic-management-of-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-by-community-pharmacists-in-lagos. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
ENILOLOBO, JODA . "Pharmaceutical Care And Syndromic Management Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (Stis) By Community Pharmacists In Lagos.". Afribary, Afribary, 02 May. 2021. Web. 20 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/pharmaceutical-care-and-syndromic-management-of-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-by-community-pharmacists-in-lagos >.
ENILOLOBO, JODA . "Pharmaceutical Care And Syndromic Management Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (Stis) By Community Pharmacists In Lagos." Afribary (2021). Accessed November 20, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/pharmaceutical-care-and-syndromic-management-of-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-by-community-pharmacists-in-lagos