Background: Monitoring self-medication practice, which refers to individuals using medicine without instructions of physicians, is critical to control its harmful effects. However, in Vietnam, evidence about self-medication among individuals in highland areas is constrained. This study examined self-medication practice among residents living in highland areas in Vietnam and determined associated factors. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in five highland provinces with 1000 individuals. Information about individual and household’s socioeconomic status and self-medication practice in the last 12 months was surveyed. Multivariate logistic and Poisson regressions were used to identify associated factors with self-medication. Results: 83.3% reported self-medication in the last 12 months, with the mean times of self-medication being 4.5 times (SD=4.1). Female (OR=0.62, p <0.01), ethnic minorities, higher number of members having health insurance in family (OR=0.82, p <0.01) and higher annual household income (OR=0.78, p <0.05) were associated with the lower likelihood of “Only buy medicines at pharmacy stores when having illness in the last 12 month”. Moreover, people who were females (OR=0.59, p <0.05), white-collar worker (OR=0.25, p <0.01) and had higher number of children in the family (OR=0.68, p <0.05) were less likely to practice self-medication. People who were ethnic minorities, white-collar worker (Coef.=−0.32, p <0.01) and higher number of members having health insurance in family had lower times of self-medication in the last 12 months compared to other groups. Meanwhile, individuals having higher number of members in the family (Coef.=0.07, p <0.01) and higher annual household income (Coef.=0.08, p <0.01) had highertimes of self-medication in the last 12 months. Conclusion: Residents in highland areas in Vietnam had a considerably high 12-month prevalence of self-medication. Medical products quality management and self-medication guideline are potential to maximize the effects of self-medication. Moreover, promoting the use of health insurance should also be concerned as a solution to address this issue.

Background. Antibiotic resistance (AR) remains a global crisis. However, the literature on public awareness about antibiotic use and AR in the highland provinces of Vietnam has been constrained. This study explores the awareness of antibiotic use and resistance among general people in highland provinces in Vietnam and detects associated factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in five highland provinces with 1000 households. Information about socioeconomic status and awareness regarding prescription medicine use, antibiotic use, and AR was surveyed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors with awareness. Results. 64.2% of people were aware of prescription drugs. More than two-thirds (67.4%) of participants were aware of antibiotic use, of whom only 55.8% were aware of AR. Higher age, education, and family income were positively associated with being aware of prescription medicine, antibiotic, and AR. Females had a lower likelihood of being aware of prescription medicine (OR=0.64; 95%CI=0.45-0.90) compared to male counterparts. Those being freelancers were more likely to be aware of antibiotic resistance (OR=2.30; 95%CI=1.13-4.67) compared to those working in agriculture/fishery/forestry sector. Compared to Kinh ethnic, most ethnic minorities were less likely to be aware of prescription medicine, antibiotic, and AR. Conclusions. This study showed a low awareness regarding prescription medicine, antibiotic use, and AR among public people in the highland provinces of Vietnam. Further systemic and didactic educational interventions targeting females, low education, low income, ethnic minorities, and those working in agriculture/fishery/forestry sector in this setting should be performed and evaluated to improve the awareness about antibiotic use and resistance.