ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2017
Knowledge and provision of misoprostol among pharmacy workers in Senegal: a cross sectional study.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Perceptions and experiences of the prevention, detection, and management of postpartum haemorrhage: a qualitative evidence synthesis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Medical abortion offered in pharmacy versus clinic-based settings.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Medical Abortion Provision by Pharmacies and Drug Sellers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.Studies in family planning · 2018Pooled it
- The economic and health impact of substandard uterotonic use for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in three Sub-Saharan African countries: a comparative analysis.Health research policy and systems · 2025Article
- Quality of Information on Medication Abortion in Private Pharmacies: Results from a Mystery Client Study in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Knowledge, attitude, and intended practice of abortion among pharmacy students in Thailand after the amendment of the Thai Abortion Law.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- Quality of information offered to women by drug sellers providing medical abortion in Nigeria: Evidence from providers and their clients.Frontiers in global women's health · 2022Article
- A descriptive analysis of medical abortion commodity availability and pricing at retail outlets in 44 countries across four regions globally.Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2021Article
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy, Misoprostol Knowledge and Use of Medication Abortion in Lagos State, Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study.Studies in family planning · 2021Article
- Women's self-reported experiences using misoprostol obtained from drug sellers: a prospective cohort study in Lagos State, Nigeria.BMJ open · 2020Article
- Misoprostol knowledge and distribution in Mexico City after the change in abortion law: a survey of pharmacy staff.BMJ sexual & reproductive health · 2019Article
- Metrics of Survival: Post-Abortion Care and Reproductive Rights in Senegal.Medical anthropologyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMaking misoprostol widely available for management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and post abortion care (PAC) is essential for reducing maternal mortality. Private pharmacies (thereafter called "pharmacies") are integral in supplying medications to the general public in Senegal. In the case of misoprostol, pharmacies are also the main supplier to public providers and therefore have a key role in increasing its availability. This study seeks to understand knowledge and provision of misoprostol among pharmacy workers in Dakar, Senegal.
methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Dakar, Senegal. 110 pharmacy workers were interviewed face-to-face to collect information on their knowledge and practice relating to the provision of misoprostol.
resultsThere are low levels of knowledge about misoprostol uses, registration status, treatment regimens and side effects among pharmacy workers, and corresponding low levels of training on its uses for reproductive health. Provision of misoprostol was low; of the 72% (n = 79) of pharmacy workers who had heard of the product, 35% (n = 27) reported selling it, though rarely for reproductive health indications. Almost half (49%, n = 25) of the respondents who did not sell misoprostol expressed willingness to do so. The main reasons pharmacy workers gave for not selling the product included stock outs (due to product unavailability from the supplier), perceived lack of demand and unwillingness to stock an abortifacient.
conclusionsKnowledge and availability of misoprostol in pharmacies in Senegal is low, posing potential challenges for delivery of post-abortion care and obstetric care. Training is required to address low levels of knowledge of misoprostol registration and uses among pharmacy workers. Barriers that prevent pharmacy workers from stocking misoprostol, including weaknesses in the supply chain and stigmatisation of the product must be addressed. Low reported sales for reproductive health indications also suggest limited prescribing of the product by health providers. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for this barrier to misoprostol availability.
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