Pharmacy Survey Launches in Pakistan
January 17, 2019
During the first half of January, the WIE team in Pakistan was busy in hiring and training staff, and pilot testing and incorporating feedback for the survey. Data collection for the pharmacy survey began in full earnest on January 17, 2019.
Enumerators practice using the mobile survey app
The data collection team collaborates during the WIE Pakistan Pharmacy Training in Karachi
Pharmacy Survey, Facility assessment and exit interviews Completed in Turkey
December 31, 2018
In Turkey, many women purchase family planning services and contraceptive products at outlets other than health facilities, such as pharmacies, supermarkets, grocery stores, and even tobacco and beauty shops. The WIE team in Turkey obtained a full listing of these five categories of suppliers by mapping the mahalles in Bagcilar (intervention site) and Kanarya (control site). To verify the brand names of various products available, team members visited a number of pharmacies.
Data collection started on December 12, 2018 and ended on December 31, 2018. The team was able to complete the survey of 26 pharmacies; 43 market/supermarkets; 44 grocery stores; 11 tobacco shops; and 2 beauty shops.
As part of the comprehensive evaluation, the WIE team in Turkey conducted facility and client exit interviews. Data collection started on August 6, 2018 and was completed by mid-September 2019. The team completed 35 facility checklists and 311 exit interviews for a total of 346 interviews.
Pharmacy Survey Data Colletion Completed in Tanzania
December 21, 2018
The WIE Tanzania team found that 12.8% of women obtain family planning commodities from pharmacies. Therefore, the team decided to conduct pharmacy surveys in all public and private pharmacies as well as drug stores in the Willows intervention site (Sokoni, Daraja, and Sinon) and control site (Akheri and Usa River) that provide family planning commodities. Additionally, the public and private pharmacies and drug stores around the three big markets in Arusha city were surveyed because the team learned that these markets are where women sell or purchase essential commodities. Therefore, there was high chance that women use these pharmacies and drugstores.
Data collection for the pharmacy survey took place between December 4 and 24. In total 345 pharmacies were surveyed in the intervention area and 163 in the control area.
The WIE team in Tanzania did experience some challenges. First, ethical approval was delayed due to new regulations that require involvement of the National Bureau of Statistics through Local Government Authority headquarters. The survey was approved and the team was able to move forward with implementation. Once the team started the survey, they found that some pharmacies/drugstores were permanently closed due to high income taxes. For those still in operation, the owners feared that government authorities sent the survey team. In order to reduce the fear and increase acceptance, the ward/village leaders introduced the team to these establishments. Finally, it is illegal to sell abortion medication; it can only be prescribed by a recognized gynecologist and offered by specially authorized pharmacies. Therefore, it was difficult to get this information from accredited drug dispensing outlets (ADO) and drugstores available in the study area.
The Tanzania Pharmacy Survey Data Collection Team An enumerator visits one of the survey sites