Table 4 describes the facility sample group in terms of "risk factors" which possibly affect quality.

64% of the facility samples were from PHC level and 36% from hospitals.

69% of the samples were from facilities in hot climate areas as defined by "discomfort level" in a zoning system used by the Surveyor-General's Office, based on combined temperature and humidity records from the Meteorological Department.

64% of the samples were from facilities which depend on slow (worst case) transport methods such as railways (or the railway's own road motor services or a combination of both). This was likely to mean repeated handling, long storage times at depots, and possible exposure to high temperatures in transit. The remaining 36% were delivered using the medical stores' own vehicles (covered trucks) or commercial transporters providing an overnight/24 hour delivery service. These methods were assumed to represent the "best case" with short transit times and minimal exposure to high temperatures.

Drug store rooms at facility level were found to be satisfactory in all cases. Windows were curtained and the rooms had ceilings. In the case of ergometrine, the use of refrigeration or room temperature storage was recorded on the sample form.

Note: the actual conditions of transportation and storage will be the subject of a separate study where temperature and humidity were monitored for a sample of distribution routes.

Table 4 - Number and percentage of samples in each risk category

Note:

^a Ten ergometrine inj samples were unrefriderated at time of sampling.

^b Ergometrine inj was transported according to cold chain procedures in the majority of cases, but not all.