Reproductive health services: attitudes and practices of Saudi community pharmacists

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are a crucial provision of public health. The consequences of having suboptimal SRH services include unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, reproductive cancers, and sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections. This study was conducted to assess the role community pharmacists play in providing SRH, their practices, and their attitudes toward fulfilling the exciting demand.

A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire was used. The study was conducted among community pharmacies across the Asir region.

A total of 196 community pharmacists were included in this study. The majority of pharmacy chains reported selling pregnancy tests (93.9%) compared to independent pharmacies (72.9%), p value (0.0001). Similarly, community pharmacists working in pharmacy chains educated patients on pregnancy tests (78.2%) more often than those working in independent pharmacies (62.6%), p value (0.03). Ovulation tests were sold more frequently in pharmacy chains (74.3%) than in independent pharmacies (52.08%), p value (0.004). Providing education on these products followed the same pattern with (72.9%, 47.9%), respectively, p value (0.003).

The majority of pharmacists reported selling pregnancy tests and ovulation and educated patients regarding both these test kits. However, these services were more widely available in pharmacy chains than in independent pharmacies. Pharmacists exhibited a positive attitude toward SRH, exhibiting social accountability and an ethical responsibility to fulfill their role.