title: Client-pharmacy worker interactions regarding medical abortion in Zambia in 2009 and 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine sales practices, knowledge, and behavior of pharmacy workers regarding medical abortion in 2009 and 2011 in Zambia, where hostile and stigmatizing attitudes still result in high rates of unsafe abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four mystery clients visited pharmacies during 2009 and 2011, and recorded their experiences following their interactions using a standardized form. Bivariate analysis examined pharmacy workers' attitudes, behavior, and medical abortion-dispensing practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mystery clients visited 76 pharmacies in 2009 and 80 pharmacies in 2011. In 2011, mystery clients reported hostile interactions with pharmacy workers at 8 (10%) pharmacy visits, a relative decrease from 7 (22%) in 2009 (P=0.0353). In 2009, less than half (35 [46%]) of clients received information or had the opportunity to purchase medical abortion drugs in comparison with 53 (66%) in 2011 (P=0.0110). In 2011, more pharmacy workers mentioned a valid medical abortion drug in comparison with 2009 (42 [53%] vs 31 [41%], respectively); however, guidance for women on misoprostol use was minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacy workers exhibited increased awareness of misoprostol, less hostility, and a willingness to sell medical abortion drugs; however, they continued to provide inadequate information on misoprostol for medical abortion. Effective training of pharmacy employees is vital in increasing access to safe induced-abortion care.
authors.affiliation: Ipas, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: Cheryl.j.hendrickson@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hendrickson
authors.affiliation: Ipas, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fetters
authors.affiliation: UNFPA, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mupeta
authors.affiliation: University of Zambia at University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Bellington
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vwallika
authors.affiliation: Ipas Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Djemo
authors.affiliation: Ipas, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Keris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raisanen
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol
keywords: Abortion; Medical abortion; Misoprostol; Pharmacists; Pharmacy workers; Zambia