Browsing by Author "Iipinge, Taimi"

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    A retrospective review of the utilization of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in selected private community pharmacies in Namibia: 2017-2022
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Iipinge, Taimi; Kibuule, Dan
    ackground: Overuse of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs is a considerable global public safety concern. In Namibia, despite the rising burden of mental illnesses, there is a paucity in data regarding the utilization of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Aim: The study aimed to determine the patterns and factors associated with the utilization of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in community pharmacies to guide medicine policy reforms. Methods: A descriptive multicenter longitudinal study as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) medicine utilization design. The consumption data on benzodiazepines and Z-drugs were retrospectively abstracted from the Unisolv® dispensing software in selected pharmacies over a six-year period, 2017-2022. Consequently, key informants were interviewed to identify the drivers of the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Data were exported to SPSS v25 for analysis of the patterns and factors of use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Results: Of the 10 selected-pharmacies, a total of 867 168 medicines were dispensed over the six-year review period and 2% of these were benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (n=17 840/867 168). Benzodiazepines (BZD) were the most dispensed (56%, n=9993/17 840), mainly to male patients (53.6%). The consumption of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs was highest with Zolpidem (6.07 DDDs/1000 population) compared to other benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Over 54% of the dispensing encounters of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs were repeat prescriptions of Z-drugs. From 2017 to 2022, the consumption of Z-drugs increased but declined for benzodiazepines. Stakeholders identify the thematic drivers of the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs as irrational prescribing, marketing, and patient drug dependency. Conclusion: Whilst, the consumption of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in Namibia is lower than global estimates, there is an increase in the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the private health sector. There is a need for a regulatory framework and an education strategy to empower pharmacists’ led interventions towards safe use of new benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the community pharmacies