Over the counter sale of drugs for medical abortion- Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of pharmacists of Delhi, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7439/ijpr.v6i3.2999Abstract
Introduction: Despite the well defined law and highly liberal policy Government approved medical facilities are not the leading provider of abortion in Indian Scenario. Whether legally or not Pharmacists are already acting as provider of medical abortion for large number of women in India. Dispense of Medical abortion drugs via pharmacist has the advantages of convenience, relative anonymity, hasty transaction, easy accessibility and saving cost. Aims and Objectives: Objective of present study was to assess the over the counter sale of medical abortion in terms of knowledge, attitude and practices of pharmacists of Delhi, India. Material and Methods: It was a cross sectional interview based study conducted in 110 pharmacies of 6 districts of State of Delhi. Results: A total of 75 pharmacists and 35 pharmacy workers were interviewed. Knowledge and practices of all of them was inadequate in some aspects. 68% knew Medical abortion is legal and 57% thought that over the counter sale of drugs of medical abortion is also legal. Only 40.9% knew the correct regimen of mifepristone + misoprostol combination.Most of them is not aware of any serious side effects and failure rate. Their attitude is indifferent towards the clients but positive towards training in updating knowledge if given option. Conclusion: Their knowledge, attitude and practices while dispensing drugs for medical abortion were inappropriate to qualify them as an independent mid level provider in present scenario. Unregulated OTC sale of abortifacients is responsible for high number of self induced abortion related complications.Downloads
References
Mittal S, editor. Consortium on National Consensus for Medical Abortion in India: Proceedings and Recommendations. All India Institute of Medical Sciences 8 New Delhi, 2004.
Yarnall J et al, Non-physician clinicians can safely provide first trimester medical abortion. Reproductive Health Matters 2009; 17(33):61
Berer M. Provision of abortion by mid-level providers: international policy, practice and perspectives. Bulletin of World Health Organization 2009; 87:58
Ngoc NTN, Winikoff B, Clark S, et al. Safety, efficacy and acceptability of mifespristonemisoprostol medical abortion in Vietnam. International Family Planning Perspectives 1999; 25(1):10
Hajri S, Ben Aissa R, Dabash R, et al. Ten years of medical abortion services and innovations in Tunisia. European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care 2008; 13(1):25
Deborah L. Billingsa, Dilys Walkerb , Pharmacy worker practices related to use of misoprostol for abortion in one Mexican state. Contraception 2009; 79: 445
Ganatra B, Manning V. Availability of Medical Abortion Pills and the Role of Chemists: A Study from Bihar and Jharkhand, India: Reproductive Health Matters 2005; 13(26):65
Ganatra B, Manning V, Pallipamulla S. Medical abortion in Bihar and Jharkhand: a study of service providers, chemists, women and men. New Delhi: Ipas; 2005.
Patel L, Bennett T., Support for provision of early medical abortion by mid-level providers in Bihar and Jharkhand, India: Reproductive Health Matters 2009; 17(33):70
Duggal R. The Political Economy of Abortion in India: Cost and Expenditure Patterns: Reproductive Health Matters 2004; 12(24 Supplement):130
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
- Author must Submit Copyright form After acceptance of Article