Final published version
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacies in informal settlements
T2 - a retrospective, cross-sectional household and health facility survey in four countries
AU - Bakibinga, P.
AU - Kabaria, C.
AU - Kasiira, Z.
AU - Kibe, P.
AU - Kyobutungi, C.
AU - Mbaya, N.
AU - Mberu, B.
AU - Mohammed, S.
AU - Njeri, A.
AU - Azam, I.
AU - Iqbal, R.
AU - Nazish, A.
AU - Rizvi, N.
AU - Shifat Ahmed, S.A.K.
AU - Choudhury, N.
AU - Alam, O.
AU - Khan, A.Z.
AU - Rahman, O.
AU - Yusuf, R.
AU - Odubanjo, D.
AU - Ayobola, M.
AU - Fayehun, O.
AU - Omigbodun, A.
AU - Osuh, M.
AU - Owoaje, E.
AU - Taiwo, O.
AU - Lilford, R.J.
AU - Sartori, J.
AU - Watson, S.I.
AU - Diggle, P.J.
AU - Aujla, N.
AU - Chen, Y.-F.
AU - Gill, P.
AU - Griffiths, F.
AU - Harris, B.
AU - Madan, J.
AU - Muir, H.
AU - Oyebode, O.
AU - Pitidis, V.
AU - de Albuquerque, J.P.
AU - Smith, S.
AU - Taylor, C.
AU - Ulbrich, P.
AU - Uthman, O.A.
AU - Wilson, R.
AU - Yeboah, G.
AU - Watson, S.I.
AU - Collaborative, Improving Health in Slums
PY - 2021/9/9
Y1 - 2021/9/9
N2 - Background: Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations. Methods: We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented. Results: We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a “pharmacy” across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales. Conclusions: Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor.
AB - Background: Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations. Methods: We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented. Results: We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a “pharmacy” across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales. Conclusions: Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor.
KW - Healthcare access
KW - LMICs
KW - Pharmacies
KW - Slums
KW - Welfare
U2 - 10.1186/s12913-021-06937-9
DO - 10.1186/s12913-021-06937-9
M3 - Journal article
VL - 21
JO - BMC Health Services Research
JF - BMC Health Services Research
SN - 1472-6963
IS - 1
M1 - 945
ER -