Utilisation of Community Pharmacies for Health Services Among Adults in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Community pharmacies in Nigeria serve as important frontline points of contact for health services, particularly in urban settings where residents bypass formal health facilities due to cost, distance, and waiting time. This study examines the pattern and determinants of community pharmacy utilisation for health services among adults in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A descriptive cross-sectional design is applied to 315 adults selected through purposive and systematic sampling from clients exiting ten community pharmacies in Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor local government areas. A structured questionnaire captures service types sought, frequency of pharmacy use, reasons for preferring pharmacy over formal health facility, self-medication patterns, prescription behaviour, and satisfaction with pharmacy services. SPSS is used for analysis with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Evidence from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and South South regional pharmacy assessments indicates that over 60 percent of Port Harcourt adults access community pharmacies as a first point of care for acute illnesses, with antibiotic self-procurement a prevalent and antimicrobially concerning practice. The Anderson Behavioural Model of Healthcare Utilisation underpins the study's framework. Findings will support the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Rivers State Ministry of Health on integrating community pharmacies into the primary healthcare referral network and regulating self-medication practices. Keywords: community pharmacy, health services utilisation, self-medication, primary care, Port Harcourt.