A retrospective review of the utilization of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in selected private community pharmacies in Namibia: 2017-2022
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kibuule, Dan | |
| dc.contributor.author | Iipinge, Taimi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-10-29T09:30:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-10-29T09:30:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy | |
| dc.description.abstract | 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 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/4179 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Namibia | |
| dc.subject | Dependency | |
| dc.subject | Defined Daily Dose | |
| dc.subject | Community pharmacies | |
| dc.subject | Benzodiazepine and Z-drugs | |
| dc.subject | Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical | |
| dc.subject | Namibia | |
| dc.subject | University of Namibia | |
| dc.title | A retrospective review of the utilization of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in selected private community pharmacies in Namibia: 2017-2022 | |
| dc.type | Thesis |