Azuka C Oparah , Evbade M Arigbe-Osula

For correspondence:-  Azuka Oparah   Email: oparaca@yahoo.com

Published: 23 December 2002

Citation: Oparah AC, Arigbe-Osula EM. Evaluation of Community Pharmacists' Involvement in Primary Health Care. Trop J Pharm Res 2002; 1(2):67-74 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v1i2.3

© 2002 The authors.
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Abstract

Results:  Respondents scored 87.92  ±  31.31,  and over  half  (55%)  were above  the neutral point.    This  implies  a  slightly satisfactory  but  not  significant  involvement  (p  =  0.25447).  Mean total rating on curative services was 92.61±29.6, p = 0.0759 with 58% above the neutral point. Infectious  diseases  accounted  for  majority  of the  interventions. Involvement  in preventive services  was very  poor.  Only  31%  scored above  the neutral  point  with a  rating of 65.61±31.05,  p  =  0.2377.  Quality  of  involvement  was  94.77±36.18  which  was  not  significant (p = 0.2866). Majority of the respondents (94%) claimed they would be prepared to participate in further training on primary health care programme.
Conclusion:  Community  pharmacists  are  marginally  involved  in  the primary  health  care programmes  in  Benin  City  and are  willing  to  improve on  their  performance.  Continuing education on primary  health  care and   incorporation of  primary  health  care  role of  community pharmacists in the curriculum of pharmacy schools might be helpful.