TY  - BOOK
AU  - 	Williamson  Rutegesha
AU  - Gilbert Kongola
TI  - Dispensing rate and knowledge among dispensers in community pharmacies on oral emergency contraceptives in Nyamagana, Mwanza	
PY  - 0000/// ©262021///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania:  
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS - Bugando] : 
KW  -  
KW  - Pharmacology
N2  - Abstract:

Background: Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are safe and effective drugs used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected or inadequately protected sexual intercourse ECPs work primary by preventing ovulation and are not effective if the woman is already pregnant, oral emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel are available without prescription and only in pharmacies. 

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among community pharmacies dispensers in Nyamagana district of Mwanza a well-designed questionnaire was used. 

Results: In this study out of 90 dispensers 49 (54.4%) were males and 41 (45.6%) were females, regarding their age range, 20-30 years were  69 (76.7%), 31-40 years were 14 (15.6%), 41-50 years were 4 (4.4%) and greater than 50 years were  3 (3.3%). Their education level ADDO were 16 (17.8%), basic dispensers 14 (15.6%), certificate 11 (12.2%), diploma 44 (48.9%) and degree 5 (5.6%). Regarding dispensing rate, at least each dispenser dispensed averaged of 3 packs of ECPs per day, where 88.9% dispensed 1 to 5 packs, 10% 6 to 10 packs and 1.1% greater than 10 packs. Knowledge results, 56 (62.2%) had good knowledge and 34 (37.8%) had poor knowledge. 

Conclusion: This study identified that dispensing rate average were at least 3 packs day and only 56 (62.2%) out of 90 dispensers had good knowledge regarding ECPs. Therefore the lack of knowledge can result in the delivery of misinformation to ECPs users and results to in appropriate use of the drug, hence the educational and awareness programs should be designed to address these issues.

ER  -