Original Research
An evaluation of the adequacy of pharmaceutical services for the provision of antiretroviral treatment in primary health care clinics
Submitted: 05 October 2017 | Published: 10 October 2015
About the author(s)
Talitha Crowley, Division of Nursing, Stellenbosch University, South AfricaEthelwynn L. Stellenberg, Division of Nursing, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Full Text:
PDF (349KB)Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the adequacy of pharmaceutical services for the provision of ART in PHC clinics.
Method: A quantitative descriptive study was undertaken in 20 (43%) randomly selected, eligible clinics in the uMgungundlovu district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Results: Clinics used allocated medicine rooms for storing medication, as there were no pharmacies. Problems identified were: insufficient storage space (50%; n = 10); inadequates ecurity (40%; n = 8); poor air conditioning (20%; n = 4), and functional stock-outs of essential drugs (80%; n = 16). Professional nurses performed the tasks of managing drug supply and prescribing and dispensing medication as there were no pharmacists or pharmacist's assistants in these clinics.
Conclusion: Human resource constraints necessitate professional nurses to manage drug supplies and to prescribe and dispense medication in resource-constrained PHC clinics. Clear guidelines tailored for PHC are needed to assist nurses in maintaining pharmaceutical service standards when ART services are decentralised.
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doi: 10.1002/hec.4664