Knowledge and perception of microbicides among healthcare providers in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: With the worldwide spread of HIV/AIDS, the absence of a known cure and the challenges associated with existing prevention methodologies, there is need for new prevention technologies. The successful uptake of healthcare products and services depend, to a large extent, on healthcare providers’ knowledge, perception and attitude regarding them.
Objectives: To determine the knowledge and perception of healthcare providers regarding microbicides.
Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered on 400 randomly selected health care providers in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria. Data obtained from the 350 returned questionnaire were analyzed using EPI –Info software version 3.5.1
Results: One hundred and sixty-four (46.9%) respondents were medical doctors while 157 (44.9%) were nurses, 7 (2%) were Pharmacists and 22 (6.2%) belonged to “other” categories. Thirty- two percent knew the advantages of microbicides over condoms. Sixty-eight percent indicated that microbicides would benefit only women while to 27%, it would benefit both men and women. Seventy-five percent of respondents would be willing to act as community advocates for microbicides while 21% would not be willing and 4% were not decided. There was a statistically significant association between professional group and willingness to act as community advocates for microbicides. Medical doctors were more likely to act as advocates than other professional groups (p<0.05). Female respondents were more likely to have correct knowledge regarding microbicides than males (p<0.05)
Conclusion: There are gaps in knowledge regarding microbicides among the health care providers. Capacity building would be successful since the majority are willing to act as community advocates.