• Aniekan J Etokidem, Daprim S Ogaji, and Ita B Okokon.
• Department of Community Medicine University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
• Afr Health Sci. 2014 Jun 1; 14 (2): 281-7.

BackgroundWith the worldwide spread of HIV/AIDS, the absence of a known cure and the challenges associated with existing prevention methodologies, there is need for new prevention technologies. The successful uptake of healthcare products and services depend, to a large extent, on healthcare providers' knowledge, perception and attitude regarding them.ObjectivesTo determine the knowledge and perception of healthcare providers regarding microbicides.MethodsA semi-structured questionnaire was administered on 400 randomly selected health care providers in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria. Data obtained from the 350 returned questionnaire were analyzed using EPI -Info software version 3.5.1.ResultsOne hundred and sixty-four (46.9%) respondents were medical doctors while 157 (44.9%) were nurses, 7 (2%) were Pharmacists and 22 (6.2%) belonged to "other" categories. Thirty- two percent knew the advantages of microbicides over condoms. Sixty-eight percent indicated that microbicides would benefit only women while to 27%, it would benefit both men and women. Seventy-five percent of respondents would be willing to act as community advocates for microbicides while 21% would not be willing and 4% were not decided. There was a statistically significant association between professional group and willingness to act as community advocates for microbicides. Medical doctors were more likely to act as advocates than other professional groups (p<0.05). Female respondents were more likely to have correct knowledge regarding microbicides than males (p<0.05).ConclusionThere are gaps in knowledge regarding microbicides among the health care providers. Capacity building would be successful since the majority are willing to act as community advocates.

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