Contraceptive Knowledge and Compliance with Guidelines for Providing Contraceptive Services by Patent Medicine Vendors In Ibadan North Local Government Area, Nigeria

Previous studies conducted in Nigeria have shown that Patent Medicine Vendors (PMVs) provide a substantial proportion of contraceptive services. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) provided guidelines for the delivery of contraceptive services by PMVs. This study was therefore designed to identify types of contraceptives dispensed by PMVs and determine their compliance with the FMOH guidelines in Ibadan North Local Government Area. An observational check-list and a validated interviewer administered questionnaire containing a 47- point knowledge scale were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics. Respondents’ mean age was 32.8±7.0 years, 80.9% were females, 63.5% were West African School Certificate holders. Most respondents (98.2%) were trained through the apprenticeship system. Only 17.4% were formally trained on the provision of contraceptive services. Contraceptive- related services offered by PMVs as stipulated by the guidelines were: counselling (96.5%), community sensitization (46.3%) and referral (96.4%). Virtually all (98.6%) respondents had ever dispensed contraceptives. A large proportion (72.7%) of respondents dispensed oral contraceptives contrary to the FMOH guidelines. The contraceptives ever dispensed by respondents included: male condoms (96.1%), female condoms (4.3%), doufem (72.3%), pregnon (18.8%), spermicide (4.9%) and intrauterine device (1.8%). Respondents’ mean knowledge score was 25.9±5.8. Mean knowledge score on the provision of contraceptives services among males and females were 27.7±5.9 and 25.6±5.7 respectively. On compliance 3.7% of respondents complied fully with the FMOH guidelines on contraceptive service delivery. Compliance with stipulated guidelines by the Federal Ministry of Health on the provision of contraceptive services was low among the study population. The patent medicine licensing authorities should ensure that all patent medicine vendors are provided with the Federal Ministry of Health guidelines relating to the dispensing of contraceptives. Patent Medicine Vendors should be trained on the effective use of the guidelines.

Keywords
Patent medicine vendors; Contraceptive; Contraceptive Guidelines; Birth control