Resource Library

Assessment of the Role of Private Pharmacies in Provision of Family Planning Information and Services in Jordan

The purpose of the study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices of attending pharmacy staff towards family planning after elapse of 4 years on a previous program aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills of pharmacy staff in the area of family planning.

The study concluded that:

• Pharmacy Staff are willing to provide family planning products to “walk-ins” requesting them over-the-counter, but little counseling and probing accompanies this interaction and personal convictions and beliefs of pharmacy staff sometimes affect the final sale of oral contraceptives or family planning products in general
• There are significant gaps in knowledge of pharmacy staff in the area of family planning products and their optimal use suggesting the previous training in this field did not have a carry-on effect
• The pharmacy still plays no significant role in the decision to adopt a contraceptive method or to continue to use it

In view of these findings, the starting point for adoption of family planning products will always be the physician. But, the role of the pharmacist remains significant if not crucial in maintaining proper use as oral contraceptives are classified as a repeat prescription product and actual practice confirms this where more than two-thirds of oral contraceptive business is repeat. To this end, dissipating some prevailing misconceptions and myths amongst pharmacy staff (and clients) regarding use of oral contraceptives is crucial to increase user retention rates and maintanence of propor oral contraceptive use. Furthermore, provision of information to both clients and pharmacy staff on the “extra” benefits of OCs to women’s health is needed alongside of correction of misconceptions.