Providers' knowledge, attitude and dispensing practices of e-pills in government dispensaries of South district in delhi, India.
BACKGROUND
South Delhi is one of the well developed districts in the capital with best public health care facilities. Knowledge, attitude and dispensing practices of emergency contraceptive pills (E-pills) were assessed among health care providers of government dispensaries in South Delhi.


METHODS
A descriptive epidemiological study.


METHODS
Both medical and paramedical (n = 428) providers in 63 government health care facilities were interviewed between August to December 2007 using a semi-structured interview schedule.


RESULTS
Among the different categories of the providers, medical officers were observed to be most knowledgeable about E-pills and the pharmacists were the least. The correct prescribed dose of E-pill was known only to 32% of the providers while 49% knew about its right time of intake. Misconceptions and apprehensions for promoting its use were very much prevalent even among medical officers as majority felt that open access to E-pills would increase promiscuity. The dispensing practice of providers was found positively (P < 0.05) correlated with their knowledge. Training resulted a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in knowledge, attitude and dispensing practice of the providers. Knowledge and training combined together contributed 35% to the dispensing practice (R(2) = 0.35).


CONCLUSIONS
Besides knowledge, behavior change communication strategies should form a part of the training curricula of health care providers that would help to improve the dispensing practice of E-pills.
Kishore
Vertika
V
Department of Reproductive Biomedicine, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka, New Delhi - 110 067, India.
Misro
Man M
MM
Nandan
Deoki
D