A CROSS-SECTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACISTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV IN TWO NIGERIAN TEACHING HOSPITALS

Background: The pharmacological component of prevention mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services involves the provision antiretroviral agents (ARVs) to mothers and/or their babies at any stage pregnancy. This study assessed knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) Pharmacists about PMTCT. Materials Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional was conducted among consenting Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Nigeria (UNTH). Completed questionnaires were collated analyzed using SPSS Version-25 with appropriate descriptive inferential statistics. P-values less than 0.05 considered be statistically significant. Results: total 77 participated in study, 54(70.13%) being from ABUTH. In ABUTH, 15(33.3%) identified as females, against 16(69.6%) UNTH. Majority (40,95.2%) ABUTH had 10 years working experience 8(34.8%) Forty-eight (88.9%) respondents knew correct meaning UNTH mean knowledge scores 58.70±2.88% 52.17±6.19%, respectively; t(75)=1.094, p=0.760. UNTH, 22(42.3%) Pharmacists, respectively, strongly agreed that PMTCT can prevent future infections infants. Their 69.65±1.22% 74.09±1.68% (UNTH); t(73)=-2.063, p=0.487. For practice, 4(5.33%) both hospitals very often dispensed drugs, while 37(70.83%) counseled treatment-naïve patients. Conclusion: a fair services. attitudes good, although only few them providing care for