title: Non-prescription sale and dispensing of antibiotics in community pharmacies in Zambia.
abstract: In Zambia, antibiotics are categorized as prescription-only medicines. Antibiotics dispensed without a prescription pose a public health threat, which is a concern. Consequently, the aim is to ascertain the extent of non-prescription sales and dispensing of antibiotics in community pharmacies in Zambia.
  
  
  
  The practice of non-prescription sale and dispensing were assessed in 73 randomly selected community retail pharmacies, using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire with simulated case scenarios.
  
  
  
  Majority (97%) stated that clients frequently requested non-prescribed antibiotics. Interviewees usually asked clients' indications (94%), counselled on dosing (96%) and suggested changes to antibiotic choices (97%). All (100%) dispensed non-prescribed antibiotics. Commonly dispensed antibiotics included amoxicillin (52%), cotrimoxazole (25%) and metronidazole (23%). Non-prescription sale and dispensing of antibiotics was significantly associated with interviewees' professional qualification in four out of five simulations.
  
  
  
  Non-prescription sale and dispensing of antibiotics is widespread in Zambia. Concerted public and professional interventions are needed coupled with stronger regulatory enforcement to reduce this.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Zambia , Lusaka , Zambia.
authors.forename: Aubrey Chichonyi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kalungia
authors.affiliation: b Medicine Usage in South Africa (MUSA), Faculty of Health Sciences , North-West University (Potchefstroom campus) , Potchefstroom , South Africa.
authors.forename: Johanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: c Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden.|d Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , University of Strathclyde , Glasgow , UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godman
authors.affiliation: e SUS Collaborating Centre - Health Technology Assessment & Excellence in Health, Department of Social Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy , Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana de Oliveira
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Zambia , Lusaka , Zambia.
authors.forename: Chimwemwe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simuwelu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D010595:Pharmacists; D064226:Prescription Drug Diversion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotics; Zambia; community pharmacy; dispensing; non-prescription sale