Potentials of Community Pharmacists to Improve Maternal; Newborn and Child Health
West Sfr. J. Pharm
; 23(2): 76-86, 2012.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1273589
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
With the high level of pregnancy; childbirth related and under-five deaths in Nigeria; achieving optimal maternal and child health has become the responsibility of all health personnel in a task sharing approach at all levels of care.Objectives:
We assessed baseline status of community pharmacists' involvement in Maternal; Newbornand Child Health [MNCH]; described training intervention for community pharmacists on MNCH and assessed its impact on maternal and child health.Methods:
Semi-experimental design; using multi-stage stratified sampling method was conducted in Abuja; Kwara; Abia and Edo States of Nigeria from June - September; 2011. Pre-tested questionnaires wereused to generate data on baseline activities of pharmacists. Two of the States were selected for trainingintervention while the remaining two served as control. A post-training MNCH activity level of the study and control settings was compared based on frequency of occurrence and Chi-Square analysis with the aidof Epi Info package.Results:
Over 15 of community pharmacists reported seeing 5-10 women and 10-20 children daily. Agap in MNCH knowledge was observed. The training intervention improved MNCH knowledge in the study States (P 0.05); with post-training assessment showing a 40 average increase in the number of mothers and under-five caregivers counselled on key MNCH interventions.Conclusion:
The baseline status of the community pharmacists' participation in MNCH revealed aconsiderable client load of pregnant and nursing mothers with under 5 years children in contact with the community pharmacists daily. Community pharmacists in MNCH interventions indicated a knowledge gap.The training intervention showed knowledge transfer and improved community pharmacists' position as promoters; facilitators and implementers of maternal; newborn and child health in Nigeria
Full text:
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Pharmacists
/
Infant, Newborn
/
Child Welfare
/
Maternal Welfare
Language:
English
Journal:
West Sfr. J. Pharm
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
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