Document 2175
 DOCN  M94A2175
 TI    Compliance with universal precautions and client counseling among
       pharmacy operators in two Nigerian towns.
 DT    9412
 AU    Uwakwe C; Lurie P; Mansaray A; Onwu G; Ibadan University, Department of
       Guidance and Counselling,; Ibadan, Nigeria.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):364 (abstract no. PD0063). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370400
 AB    OBJECTIVE: About .5 million Nigerians are infected with HIV. In Nigeria
       and many developing countries, pharmacy operators provide primary health
       care and even perform minor surgery. This study was designed to assess
       the degree of compliance with universal precautions as well as the
       extent of client counseling among pharmacy operators in two Nigerian
       towns, Owerri and Umuahia. METHODS: 64 pharmacies were selected from the
       83 in these two Nigerian towns. Data were generated by focus group
       discussions and a self-administered knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and
       practices questionnaire administered to these pharmacy operators.
       Subjects were asked about their practices in drawing blood, giving
       intramuscular injections, handling body fluids, performing or assisting
       in performing surgery, and physical examinations. In addition, research
       staff posing as patients with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) were
       used to assess the validity of the self-reports of client counseling and
       to observe the presence of posters, condoms, pamphlets, and other AIDS
       educational materials. RESULTS: The pharmacy operators engaged in
       clinical procedures for which they were not well trained, including
       abortions and blood transfusions. 67% of the pharmacy operators knew
       that HIV can be transmitted sexually, but only 19% knew that it can be
       transmitted by transfusion. Only 41% followed recommended procedures for
       syringe disinfection. 33% sell condoms, but none had condoms or AIDS
       educational materials on display. No pharmacy operator spontaneously
       counseled the dummy STD patients about HIV, although 54% did so when
       prompted. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Low HIV/AIDS knowledge by Nigerian
       pharmacy operators may account for their non-compliance with universal
       precautions. Implementing intensive HIV/AIDS-related occupational health
       training to improve sterilization practices and enhance client
       counseling is a potential route for preventing HIV transmission in
       developing countries.
 DE    *Counseling  Educational Status  Human  HIV Infections/*PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Nigeria
       *Pharmacists  Primary Health Care  *Universal Precautions  MEETING
       ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).