title: Management of simulated patients with sexually transmitted infections by staff of retail pharmacies in Kibera slums of Nairobi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the treatment suggested to sexually transmitted infections (STI) self-medicating patients in retail pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kibera slum, Nairobi City, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff of 50 convenient randomly selected retail pharmacies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (97%) of the pharmacy staff who attended to self-medicating patients asked questions. Most of these questions centered around the onset of the stated symptoms, the health of the partner, patient's current health status and previous medications taken. Of the 99 staff evaluated, 60% correctly diagnosed gonorrhoea and 82% correctly diagnosed genital ulcer disease (GUD). Only nine out of fifty (18%) offered the recommended treatment for gonorrhoea and only one individual offered recommended treatment for GUD. The most commonly offered treatment for gonorrhoea and GUD was metronidazole and penicillin, respectively. Overall, only 10% correctly diagnosed both conditions and offered appropriate treatment. The staff also counselled patients on a wide range of issues including condom use, abstinence and being faithful, contact treatment, seeking prompt treatment and completing treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With only about 10% offering appropriate government recommended treatment for gonorrhoea and GUD, these pharmacy staff working in retail pharmacies in Kibera slum put slum dwellers seeking care at an increased risk of STI related morbidity and transmission due to inappropriate or inadequate treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve management of these conditions, in-service training and enforcement of the relevant legislation and policy is needed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbiology Research, Research, Care and Training Programme, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P. O. Box 614-40100, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Kwena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wamae
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bukusi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012307:Risk Factors; D012651:Self Medication; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents