Objective To examine the patterns in utilization of community pharmacies and perceptions of the general public towards community pharmacists’ role in health services delivery. Method A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Ga West district. A total of 497 adults (18 years and above) were chosen using a three-stage cluster random sampling technique. information on respondents’ contact with community pharmacies (i.e. 12 months prior to the study), reasons for visiting the pharmacies, factors influencing the choice of a particular pharmacy and perception towards community pharmacists’ roles were collected. Data collected were analyzed using stata version 14. Key findings Out of the 497 respondents, 415 indicated that they had used pharmacies within the last 12 months prior to the study, while 82 indicated that they had not used the facilities within the same time frame. majority of the pharmacy users (33.7%) visited community pharmacies once a month. Approximately 84% of the pharmacy users frequently visited community pharmacies to get treatment for minor ailments. most users (about 75%) chose to visit a particular pharmacy as it was close to their home/workplace/hospital/clinic. More than half of the pharmacy users identified the pharmacist as the first point of contact in case of any drug-related problem. Less than half of the respondents (44.9%) perceived community pharmacists as health professionals with a good balance between health and business matters. Conclusion The findings of the study suggest that beside the fact that majority of the respondents believe that community pharmacists are responsive, friendlier and have the capacity to handle minor ailments, they are indeed using community pharmacies for the treatment of minor ailments. It will therefore be important to develop appropriate policy and regulations that enables community pharmacies to adequately participate in the delivery of primary care and thereby improve population health.

Objective As part of the efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Ghana has received several shipments of approved vaccines, and administration has begun in the country. Studies examining the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Ghana were mostly conducted before the vaccination exercise. Vaccine acceptance decisions however vary with time and hence, peoples’ decisions may have changed once vaccines became accessible. This study examines the level and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adult Ghanaians during the vaccination exercise. Methods The study was a cross-sectional online survey involving Ghanaian adults (18 years and above) eligible to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The study was conducted from 18th May 2021 to 14th July 2021 and the questionnaire was answered by 362 respondents. Snowball sampling technique was utilized to obtain the respondents. Probit regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Key findings Only 62.7% of the respondents indicated that they will accept the COVID-19 vaccine if provided. The regression results revealed that the decision to accept the COVID-19 vaccine was influenced by occupation, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits and attitudes towards the vaccines. Conclusion The findings suggest that government must implement strategies to enhance positive attitudes toward vaccines, increase the risk perception of contracting the virus and also educate the populace about the benefits of the vaccine.

Objective To examine the determinants of community pharmacy utilization and factors influencing an individual's decision to use community pharmacy as first option for primary care services. Method A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in the Ga West district of Ghana. A total of 497 adults (18 years and above) were chosen using a three-stage cluster random sampling technique. Probit regression models were used to estimate the determinants of use of community pharmacy in general, and use of community pharmacy as first option for primary care services. Key findings Out of 497 respondents, 415 indicated that they had used community pharmacies within the last 12 months prior to the study, while 82 indicated that they had not used community pharmacies within the same time frame. The regression results revealed that utilization of community pharmacy services was influenced by age, presence of minor ailment, distance to the nearest pharmacy, employment status, income, location and perceptions concerning pharmacists' roles. Additionally, factors influencing an individual's decision to use community pharmacy services as first option for primary care services were found to include perceptions concerning pharmacists' role, privacy, distance and waiting time.Conclusion The findings of the study have significant implications for policy formulation, aimed at improving community pharmacy services utilization and consequently improving the quality of services offered, both in community pharmacies and mainstream hospitals.

Background: Spontaneous reporting systems are the commonest means of reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) worldwide. Under-reporting remains a challenge particularly in developing countries among healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are considered the primary stakeholders in the reporting of ADRs. The challenge with studies in countries such as Ghana is that the focus has been on a single professional group or health facility. This study examines the rate of reporting as well as awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward ADR reporting across professional groups (doctors, nurses, and pharmacist) and selected health facilities (ownership types: government, quasi-government, and private; hierarchy: district, regional, and teaching) in Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to select and interview 424 healthcare professionals (HCPs) from 8 hospitals in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana on issues of ADR reporting, awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward ADR reporting. Valid responses from 378 HCPs were obtained and analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Findings: The results suggest that about 82.8% of the HCPs interviewed have come across an ADR incidence, but only 52.6% of them have reported such incidence, with pharmacist (66.7%) being the most likely to report. The results further suggest that about 85.8% of HCPs are aware of ADR reporting procedures and display positive attitudes toward same. In addition, the knowledge of HCPs on ADR reporting is low with training being a major area of need. Conclusion: There is the need for healthcare managers and the regulator to pay attention to existing gaps in awareness, attitudes, and most importantly knowledge of HCPs on structures and modalities for ADR reporting. Plain Language Summary Awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among healthcare professionals in Ghana Reporting of unpleasant reactions related to the use of medicinal products has been very low in less developed countries. Studies conducted in Ghana to examine the reporting of unpleasant reactions associated with the use of medicinal products have focused mainly on one health facility or health care provider group. This article examines the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward the reporting of unpleasant reactions to the use of medicinal products. The authors used a quantitative method to examine the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward reporting of unpleasant reactions to medicinal products. The study was conducted in eight hospitals in Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana using a structured questionnaire. Only 378 out of 424 healthcare providers returned the completed questionnaire. The findings of the study show that 213 of the healthcare providers have encountered at least one patient with an unpleasant reaction to the use of medicinal products, although only 112 reported the unpleasant reactions. Pharmacists were found to be more likely to report unpleasant reactions as 12 out of 18 pharmacists who responded to the questionnaire indicated that they report the unpleasant reactions seen. In addition, 321 of the healthcare providers knew of the reporting procedures for unpleasant reactions to a medicinal product in Ghana. Only 219 healthcare providers knew of the reporting procedures in the facilities in which they worked, however. Furthermore, the knowledge of healthcare providers on the method of reporting is low.