Potentials of Community Pharmacists to Improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Background: With the high level of pregnancy, childbirth related and under-five deaths in Nigeria, achieving optimal maternal and child health has become the responsibility of all health personnel in a task sharing approach at all levels of care.

Objectives: We assessed baseline status of community pharmacists' involvement in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health [MNCH], described training intervention for community pharmacists on MNCH and assessed its impact on maternal and child health.

Methods: Semi-experimental design, using multi-stage stratified sampling method was conducted in Abuja, Kwara, Abia and Edo States of Nigeria from June - September, 2011. Pre-tested questionnaires were used to generate data on baseline activities of pharmacists. Two of the States were selected for training intervention while the remaining two served as control. A post-training MNCH activity level of the study and control settings was compared based on frequency of occurrence and Chi-Square analysis with the aid of Epi Info package.

Results: Over 15% of community pharmacists reported seeing 5-10% women and 10-20% children daily. A gap in MNCH knowledge was observed. The training intervention improved MNCH knowledge in the study States (P < 0.05), with post-training assessment showing a 40% average increase in the number of mothers and under-five caregivers counselled on key MNCH interventions.

Conclusion: The baseline status of the community pharmacists' participation in MNCH revealed a considerable client load of pregnant and nursing mothers with under 5 years children in contact with the community pharmacists daily. Community pharmacists in MNCH interventions indicated a knowledge gap. The training intervention showed knowledge transfer and improved community pharmacists' position as promoters, facilitators and implementers of maternal, newborn and child health in Nigeria.