Original Research ArticleSelf-medication pattern among children attending a tertiary hospital in South India: a cross-sectional study Sridevi A Naaraayan*, I. Rathinabalan, V. Seetha INTRODUCTIONWHO recognizes self-medication as an element of selfcare. 1 Self-medication is defined as the utilization of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms or the irregular or continuous use of a prescribed drug for chronic or repeated diseases or symptoms. 2 In pediatric context, self-medication implies administration of medication by the care giver without medical consultation. Although over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are meant for self-medication and are of proven efficacy and safety, their improper use due to lack of knowledge of their side effects and interactions could have serious implications, especially in extremes of ages. The main problem with self-medication with antibiotics is the emergence of resistance. 4 Economic, political and cultural factors have contributed to the growth and spread of self-medication worldwide. These include greater availability of drugs, irresponsible publicity, pressure to convert prescription only drugs to ABSTRACT Background: Administration of medications by care-givers to children without medical consultation is termed selfmedication. Published literature on self-medication pattern in Indian children is scanty. Primary objective of the study was to study the prevalence of self-medication. Secondary objectives were to study its characteristics and the relation between demographic characteristics and self-medication. Methods: This descriptive study was performed in the outpatient department of Institute of child health and hospital for children. All children between 1 month and 12 years of age who attended the outpatient department during a particular time of the day on particular days of week were included in the study. After noting down the demographic characteristics, history of self-medication was elicited. For children who self-medicated, inciting illness, name of drug, source, reason and adverse events were noted down. Prevalence of self-medication was expressed as proportion with 95% confidence interval. Relation between demographic factors and self-medication was determined using chisquare test. Results: Prevalence of self-medication was 32% (95% confidence interval 28-35%). Common illnesses leading to self-medication were fever, cough and cold. Commonly used drugs were paracetamol, anticold medications and antibiotics. Most of them used previous prescription to procure the drugs and previous experience on efficacy was the most common reason cited. Older children were more commonly self-medicated than the younger (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Self-medication is encountered in 32% of children attending the outpatient department of the hospital and is more common in older children.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.