Adverse drug reactions reporting practice and associated factors among community health extension workers in public health facilities, Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: timely adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reporting has contributed immensely towards public health safety. Community health extension workers (CHEWs) provides basic medical care in rural areas. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, practice, and determinants of ADRs reporting among CHEWs in public health institutions, Southwest, Nigeria.

Methods: a cross-sectional survey of 333 CHEWs randomly selected from public health facilities using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaire sought information on the knowledge, attitude and practice of CHEWs towards ADRs reporting. The knowledge and attitude questions were scored and categorized. The association between dependent and independent variables assessed with bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions, and p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: among 333 respondents, 205 (61.6%) had encountered patients with ADRs but only 26 (12.6%) had reported it with yellow forms. About half, 169 (50.8%), and 191 (57.4%) respondents had a positive attitude and inadequate knowledge of ADRs reporting respectively. Sex (aOR: 2.84, 95% CI: 2.10-7.10; p < 0.0001), working in Ogbomoso area (aOR:3.3, 95% CI: 1.34-8.21; p=0.01), and training (aOR:2.01, 95% CI: 1.20-3.42; p = 0.01) were factors associated with adequate knowledge. The determinant of ADRs reporting was training (aOR: 3.63, 95% CI: 1.13-11.63; p = 0.03).

Conclusion: though CHEWs had a slightly positive attitude, they had inadequate knowledge and poor ADRs reporting. The determinant of inadequate ADRs reporting knowledge and under reporting was lack of training. There is an urgent need for educational intervention programmes towards improving knowledge and practices of ADRs reporting among CHEWs.