Assessment of dispensing and counseling practices of hormonal contraceptives among community pharmacists and pharmacist assistants in Erbil city: a cross-sectional study

Background and Objective: Hormonal contraceptives play a critical role in family planning and women’s health, yet pharmacists’ involvement in dispensing and counseling on their use remains underexplored in Iraq. This cross-sectional study investigates the dispensing and counseling knowledge of community pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Methods: A total of 450 participants were recruited from 37 randomly selected quarters using cluster sampling. All pharmacies in these clusters were included, and all eligible staff were invited to participate. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire face to face covering demographics, contraceptive knowledge, dispensing and counseling practices, challenges, and pharmacy setting. Results: The study identified notable knowledge gaps, especially regarding long-acting methods such as IUDs and injectables. While 78% believed they had adequate information for counseling, 27.8% lacked formal training. Familiarity was significantly associated with public sector employment (P <0.001), increased years of experience (P <0.001), and educational level (P <0.001). Although females showed higher familiarity than males, the association was not statistically significant (P = 0.554). Conclusion: Although almost all pharmacists and assistants were familiar with hormonal contraceptives and willing to counsel, gaps in formal training specially on long-acting methods parsest. Familiarity was linked to experience, public sector work, and education. Structured, targeted training programs are essential to address the knowledge gaps in hormonal contraceptive methods, particularly among early-career pharmacists.