PHARMACY STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN THREE NIGERIAN TERTIARY UNIVERSITIES

PHARMACY STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN THREE NIGERIAN TERTIARY UNIVERSITIES

 

KOSISOCHI CHINWENDU AMORHA1,*, CHIAMAKA MARYANN ASOGWA1, NKIRUKA CHIAMAKA IBEKWE 1, 2

  1.  Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, PMB 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
  2.  Chamzo Pharmacy, 116, Hob & Hog Plaza, Moshalashi Bus Stop, Shasha Road, Shasha, Lagos.

Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 14(1): 018-028 ; Jan – June 2022

ABSTRACT

Pharmacists should engage in preventive care services that promote public health and prevent disease. Pharmacy education is recognizing the potential for pharmacists in public health. This study assessed Nigerian pharmacy students’ involvement with public health interventions. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), University of Jos (UNIJOS) and University of UYO (UNIUYO). Data were collected with a 47-item structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using the IBM SPSS Version 25.0, with statistical significance set as P < 0.05. Most of the respondents were between 21 to 26 years old (n = 299, 82.4%) and claimed to have received sufficient training in pharmacy school to efficiently participate in public health activities (n = 269, 74.1%). After categorization, about a quarter of the respondents had good knowledge of public health (n = 97; 26.7%) while less than half of them were sufficiently involved with public health activities (n = 151, 41.6%) or willing to get involved (n = 97; 26.7%). More respondents from UNN were more willing to participate in public health activities compared to respondents from UNIJOS and UNIUYO (41.9% vs. 29.9% vs. 21.5%; χ2 = 2.483; P = 0.002). Respondents who were members of any health-related association/club on campus were more willing to participate in public health activities compared to those who were not (42.0% vs. 28.4%; χ2 = 7.367; P = 0.007). Level of pharmacy students’ involvement with public health activities could be influenced by the university, membership of health-related associations/clubs on campus, participation in clinical outreaches, public health courses. The university can serve as a springboard for pharmacists’ active involvement in public health.

 

Email of correspondence: kosisochi.amorha@unn.edu.ng;

KEYWORDS: Interventions; Pharmacy students; Public health; Nigeria.