<p>Self-medication practices among Vietnamese residents in highland provinces</p>

Abstract

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.

Psychological distress among mountainous farmers in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and associated factors

“…We presume the underlying cause of this phenomenon is that in our sample, the majority of farmers merely went to visit and to achieve health information from medical professionals once they had severe health problems. Indeed, our hypothesis was supported by previous studies that showed approximately 50%–80% of inhabitants in rural and mountainous sites of Vietnam habitually practised self-treatment or self-medication 34–36 or visited nearby traditional healers. 37 38 Additionally, our regression model indicated that multiple concurrent diseases were statistically linked to psychological distress.…”

Routine Medical Check-Up and Self-Treatment Practices among Community-Dwelling Living in a Mountainous Area of Northern Vietnam

“…In this study, we found that 33.7% of people self-treated during the past three months. This result was lower than in some studies in the world and Vietnam [ 5 , 23 , 37 – 40 ]. This difference is probably due to the different recall times, as previous studies often asked for 12 months, while our study asked for three months because we want to limit recall bias which occur when people have to remember events for long periods.…”

“…A study from 1998 found that the rate of self-treatment in mountainous areas was 57% in the last four weeks [ 23 ]. Another recent study showed that 83.3% of people in mountainous areas in Central Vietnam had self-treatment practices in the last 12 months [ 5 ]. Self-treatment is mainly based on personal experience or advice from friends, relatives, and drug sellers.…”

Rapid Assessment of Price Instability and Paucity of Medicines and Protection for COVID-19 Across Asia: Findings and Public Health Implications for the Future

“…As a result, community pharmacists continue to play a key role in managing diseases in Vietnam with for instance over 80% of people typically visiting a pharmacist first for their illness. These scenarios are common especially in rural areas to conserve costs for patients and enhance profits for pharmacists; however, rates of selfpurchasing of medicines are lower than before enhanced by increased social insurance (113,(123)(124)(125). Despite this, the costs of medicines can still be a concern in Vietnam with high costs vs. IRP (126).…”