Characterization and distribution of medicine vendors in 2 states in Nigeria: implications for scaling health workforce and family planning services

Abstract

Background In 2014, Nigeria issued the task-shifting/sharing policy for essential health services, which aimed to fill the human resource gap and improve the delivery of health services across the country. This study focuses on the characteristics, spread, and family planning (FP) stocking practices of medicine vendors in Lagos and Kaduna, assessing the influence of medical training on the provision and stocking of FP services and commodities by vendors. Methods We conducted a census of all Patent Medicines stores (PMS) followed up with a facility assessment among 10% of the mapped shops, utilizing an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariate analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) for the test of significance in the study. Results A total of 8318 medicine shops were enumerated (76.2% urban). There were 39 shops per 100,000 population in both states on average. About half (50.9%) were manned by a medicine vendor without assistance, 25.7% claimed to provide FP services to > 2 clients per week, and 11.4% were not registered with the regulatory body or any professional association. Also, 28.2% of vendors reported formal medical training, with 56.3% of these medically trained vendors relatively new in the business, opening within the last 5 years. Vendors utilized open drug markets as the major source of supply for FP products. Medical training significantly increased the stocking of FP products and inhibited utilization of open drug markets. Conclusion Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendor (PPMVs) have continued to grow progressively in the last 5 years, becoming the most proximal health facility for potential clients for different health services (especially FP services) across both Northern and Southern Nigeria, now comprising a considerable mass of medically trained personnel, able to deliver high-quality health services and complement existing healthcare infrastructure, if trained. However, restrictions on services within the PPMV premise and lack of access to quality drugs and commodities have resulted in poor practices among PPMVs. There is therefore a need to identify, train, and provide innovative means of improving access to quality-assured products for this group of health workers.

Factors associated with the adoption of a digital health service by patent proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) in Lagos, Nigeria

“…Many low-income households in Nigeria rely on informal providers such as PPMVs for acute care because of absenteeism, drug shortages, and a poor ability to diagnose disease at public sector facilities. 9 , 10 Lack of financial access to services due to high user fees at PHC facilities is another barrier to the use of public sector facilities. 3 Non-poor Nigerian households prefer getting services from private clinics 9 while poor households choose the convenience, reduced waiting time, availability of drugs, perceived lower cost, and the absence of formality offered by PPMVs.…”

Karakteristik Pasangan Usia Subur dengan Pemanfaatan Pelayanan Keluarga Berencana di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Panyabungan Utara Kabupaten Mandailing Natal

“…Begitu pula sebaliknya orang yang tidak tahu apapun tentang suatu alat kontrasepsi, lantas disuruh menggunakan, hal yang tidak kemungkin besar akan terjadi adalah salah dalam penggunaannya dan tidak sesuai aturan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa adanya hubungan antara pengetahuan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan alat kontrasepsi (20). Pasangan usai subur yang memiliki pengetahuan cukup akan memilih alat kontrasepsi motode jangka panjang karena pengetahuan peserta KB lebih sering mendapat informasi dari berbagai sumber seperti media sosial, elektronik, majalah dan sebagainya dan lebih banyak memanfaatkan pelayanan alat kontrasepsi dan pasangan usia subur yang tingkat pengetahuannya kurang sebagian besar menggunakan alat kontrasepsi dan memanfaatkan hal ini dikarenakan kurangnya pengetahuan tentang kontrasepsi terbatas dan hanya pada alat kontrasepsi yang digunakan pada pasangan usia subur (21).…”

The new model for medicine distribution by combining of supply chain and expert system using rule-based reasoning method

“…Facing this phenomenon requires an appropriate step so that the impact can be anticipated properly, one of which is by ensuring the availability of medicines in the community because medicines are one indicator to control and inhibit the rate of increase in morbidity that can lead to death [5]. The effectiveness of the management and distribution of medicines aims to create a supply of medicines in the right amount and time with minimal costs but still obtain optimal results in accordance with the requirements and purposes of use [6], [7]. Medicine distribution must be carried out efficiently by ensuring the distribution of medicines according to the type and needs of the community to other distribution facilities that have special supply chains based on  ISSN: 2252-8938 Int J Artif Intell, Vol.…”

“…12, No. 1, March 2023: 295-304 296 applicable laws and regulations, including the distribution of hard medicines that must be handled by mean of special distribution [7], [8]. Restrictions on the level of mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic have an effect on medicine activity and distribution although it is partial, medicine distribution has so far been carried out using a special and exclusive distribution system because it must be closely monitored by the Medicine Circulation Supervisory Agency, there are medicines that are distributed freely, there are medicines that are distributed with a lim ited free system and there are even some medicines that are distributed in a limited distribution [9], [10].…”