TY - JOUR
T1 - Community pharmacists' roles in providing contraceptive services
T2 - views and experiences of adolescents in urban Khon Kaen, Northeast Thailand
AU - Andajani, Sari
AU - Chanthasukh, Sansanee
AU - Fairbairn-Dunlop, Peggy
AU - Smith, John F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s).
PY - 2023/6/1
Y1 - 2023/6/1
N2 - Objectives: Adolescent pregnancy is a national public health priority in Thailand. While contraceptive methods are available to prevent adolescent pregnancy, Thai adolescent contraceptive usage is low. Community pharmacists are likely the first health professionals to contact adolescents engaged in unprotected sex and needing emergency contraception. However, there is limited research on Thai pharmacists' roles in promoting sexual and reproductive health. This study examines Thai adolescents' perspectives on community pharmacists' roles in promoting contraceptives and preventing unwanted pregnancies. Method: This qualitative study recruited 38 adolescents aged 15-19 from one vocational school and one secondary school in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Data were collected from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Key findings: Participants felt community pharmacists had potentially critical roles in promoting adolescent contraceptive use. Community pharmacists had relevant knowledge of effective contraceptive methods, the risks and benefits of each method, and the quality of different condoms available. Community pharmacists, at times, also provided emotional support to distressed adolescents who came to their store. However, participants reported pharmacists' age, gender, and non-empathetic and judgemental attitudes could be barriers to adolescents' ease of access to contraceptive services. Conclusion: This study highlights the potentially crucial role community pharmacists could play in providing contraceptive information for adolescents. It suggests the need for changes in government policies and education and training of community pharmacists to enhance their soft skills - empathetic and non-judgemental attitudes - and their roles in delivering youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
AB - Objectives: Adolescent pregnancy is a national public health priority in Thailand. While contraceptive methods are available to prevent adolescent pregnancy, Thai adolescent contraceptive usage is low. Community pharmacists are likely the first health professionals to contact adolescents engaged in unprotected sex and needing emergency contraception. However, there is limited research on Thai pharmacists' roles in promoting sexual and reproductive health. This study examines Thai adolescents' perspectives on community pharmacists' roles in promoting contraceptives and preventing unwanted pregnancies. Method: This qualitative study recruited 38 adolescents aged 15-19 from one vocational school and one secondary school in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Data were collected from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Key findings: Participants felt community pharmacists had potentially critical roles in promoting adolescent contraceptive use. Community pharmacists had relevant knowledge of effective contraceptive methods, the risks and benefits of each method, and the quality of different condoms available. Community pharmacists, at times, also provided emotional support to distressed adolescents who came to their store. However, participants reported pharmacists' age, gender, and non-empathetic and judgemental attitudes could be barriers to adolescents' ease of access to contraceptive services. Conclusion: This study highlights the potentially crucial role community pharmacists could play in providing contraceptive information for adolescents. It suggests the need for changes in government policies and education and training of community pharmacists to enhance their soft skills - empathetic and non-judgemental attitudes - and their roles in delivering youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
KW - Thailand
KW - adolescents
KW - community pharmacist
KW - contraception
KW - sexual health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163073973&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ijpp/riad011
DO - 10.1093/ijpp/riad011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85163073973
SN - 0961-7671
VL - 31
SP - 276
EP - 281
JO - International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
JF - International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
IS - 3
ER -