Emergency contraception access in Fijian community pharmacies: A descriptive study

Objective

To assess pharmacists’ knowledge regarding emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), their attitudes towards women obtaining ECPs, and ECP counselling and dispensing practices.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey using Qualtrics was distributed via pharmacy emails and networks to recruit registered pharmacists working in community-based pharmacies.

Results

There were 22 valid respondents, predominantly female pharmacists (68%), with an average of 7.5 years of registration. All pharmacists knew the correct time frame after unprotected sex for ECPs to be effective, and 73% knew how ECPs worked, but only 50% knew that there were no contraindications. Most pharmacists (86%) knew that ECPs should be available to all women and girls, but only 59% thought that a married woman should not have to get permission from her husband to buy ECPs. Information or education for clients on the correct use of ECPs was mainly provided by pharmacists (59%), mostly through verbal communication (96%). Only 5% of pharmacists had used the emergency contraception methods wheels.

Conclusions

There were gaps in pharmacists’ knowledge regarding ECPs. Biases, judgemental attitudes, and suboptimal practices existed.

Implications for public health

Targeted education and training for pharmacists is needed to improve access to ECPs in Fiji.