COVID-19 Pandemic and Behavioural Response to Self-Medication Practice in Western Uganda

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-medication has become is a serious public health problem globally posing great risks, especially with the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 disease in Uganda. This is may be partly because of the absence of a recognized treatment for the disease, however, the prevalence and nature differ from country to country which may influence human behavioural responses.AimThis study aimed to investigated the beharioural response of the community towards self- medication practices during this COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.MethodsA cross sectional household and online survey was conducted during the months of June-to- August. The study was conducted among adult between age 18 above in communities of western Uganda who consented to participate in the study. Study participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique and sampling was done by sending a structured online questionnaire via Google forms and a printed copies questionnaire made available to other participants that did not use the online questionnaireResultsThe percentage of respondents that know about self-medication is (97%) and those that practice self-medication are approximately (88%). 97% of respondents have heard about self-medication either through health workers, media, family members, friends and/or school while 3% said they have not heard about self-medication. The percentage of respondents who practiced self- medication during COVID-19 pandemic is 57% while those that did not is 43%. There is statistically difference in the number of those that practice self-medication and those that do not p < 0.005 at 95% confidence interval. Also there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of respondents that practice self-medication during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown compare to the practice before the pandemic lockdown p < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval.ConclusionOur investigation showed adequate knowledge of self-medication and high level of self- medication practice with a decrease in self-medication practices during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown compared to the practice before the lockdown.

Self-medication practices to prevent or manage COVID-19: A systematic review

“…Studies characteristics are shown in Table 2 . The eight included studies reported data on self-medication practices in six different countries: three from Peru [ 30 – 32 ], one from Bangladesh [ 33 ], one from Togo [ 29 ], one from Nigeria [ 34 ], one from Uganda [ 35 ], and one from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [ 36 ]. All studies were cross-sectional.…”

“…All studies assessed self-medication through self-report. The questions used to assess self-medication were explicitly mentioned only in the one study [ 36 ], while other five studies report having asked for the use of medicine without prescription [ 29 , 31 – 34 ], and two studies gave no details regarding how self-medication was measured in their surveys [ 30 , 35 ]. Moreover, three of the eight studies [ 30 , 32 , 36 ] reported collecting only a pre-specified list of medications.…”

“…Regarding the recall period for which self-medication was assessed: three studies assessed it during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 33 , 35 , 36 ], one during the COVID-19 lockdown [ 30 ], one during the past three months [ 32 ], one during the past two weeks [ 29 ], one since the COVID-19 diagnosis [ 31 ], and one did not detail the recall period [ 34 ] ( Table 2 ).…”

Public Trust in COVID-19 Prevention and Responses Between January and May 2020 in Bangladesh

“…38 The absence of accurate information about COVID-19 resulted in inaccurate self-medication in Uganda. 39 Furthermore, the consequences of panicking from COVID-19 extended to business including the stock market, and foreign trade, and increased the price of essentials, such as surgical masks and face masks, sanitizers, electronics, and electrical materials. 40 In Bangladesh, lack of coordination among government authorities resulted in miscommunication and misunderstanding of the measures that have been taken by the government.…”

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“…Studies characteristics are shown in Table 2. The eight included studies reported data on selfmedication practices in six different countries: three from Peru [30][31][32], one from Bangladesh [33], one from Togo [29], one from Nigeria [34], one from Uganda [35], and one from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [36]. All studies were cross-sectional.…”