Program for Accessible health, Communication and Education (PACE) has been implementing the Women’s Health Program (WHP). The program aims to reduce the unmet need for family planning especially long term methods and reduce maternal deaths due to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and postabortal care (PAC) by distributing misoprostol. WHP aims to provide services by collaborating with other suppliers to ensure availability working through a private sector franchise to provide a channel for the distribution of subsidized IUDs, implants, and misoprostol. Prof. Asinwgire Narathius was contracted to provide consultancy services “Assessing Misoprostol Dispensing Practices for Post Abortion Care among Private Sector Pharmacies through a Mystery Client Study in Ugandaâ€
PROJECT TITLE
Assessing Misoprostol Dispensing Practices for Post Abortion Care among Private Sector Pharmacies through a Mystery Client Study in Uganda
To monitor Misoprostol counseling practices for post-abortion care services (PAC) among pharmacy providers to assess effectiveness of the medical detailing activities by PACE
• To assess PAC drug dispensing practices among private sector pharmacy providers, including:
i. actual practice with regard to determining client eligibility for PAC drugs
ii. whether clients' gestational age is assessed
iii. accuracy of information provided to clients regarding PAC regimen
iv. accuracy of information provided to clients regarding complications and referral in case of complications
v. is client referred for family planning
A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for this study. Data on pharmacy providers’ behavior and practices with regard to dispensing post-abortion care drugs and post-abortion care counseling was collected through mystery client visits. Two (2) mystery client scenarios were adopted from the PSI/Tanzania MC survey 2013 and adapted to the Ugandan situation. Efforts were made to represent the typical type of client and service sought in each of the scenarios. The interviewers disguised as customers (mystery clients) did not administer a tool to the provider but rather administered an exit questionnaire to themselves immediately after the visit. A 2-paged mystery client exit questionnaire used in the PSI/Tanzania MC survey 2013 was adopted for this study.
