Antiretroviral service delivery at selected community pharmacies in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Community-based Antiretroviral Therapy (CART) models have the potentials of providing better coverage, improving treatment uptake and producing good clinical outcome. This study was aimed at assessing the quality of antiretroviral service delivery at selected community pharmacies in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A systematic cross-sectional study was carried out among HIV/AIDS clients devolved from hospitals to community pharmacies for antiretrovirals (ARV) refills. Community pharmacy with the highest number of clients was selected from each of the three senatorial districts of the State. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristics, medical and pharmaceutical data, devolvement information, quality of services received and level of clients’ satisfaction. Data collected were expressed as proportions and presented graphically. All the participants had viral load well controlled below 1000 cells/ml; and 99.43% were on Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Efavirenz (TDF/3TC/EFV) or Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Nevirapine (ZDV/3TC/NVP) while only 0.57% was on Abacavir/Lamivudine/Efavirenz (ABC/3TC/EFV). As response to reason for accepting devolvement, ‘shorter waiting time’ had the highest frequency while ‘proximity to residence’ had the lowest frequency. Drug pick-up time in hospital ranged from 4 to 10 h while in pharmacy, it ranged from 0 to 2 h. Majority of the participants (88.24-100.00%) from the different districts were satisfied with the different services received at the community pharmacies. ‘Very likely’ as likelihood of recommending the programme for others had the highest frequency. The clients were well controlled on the first line anti-retrovirals and were satisfied with the services received during medication refill.