Prevalence of Self-Medication Among Residents of Urban Slum of Kolkata : A Community-Based, Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is dened as medication taken on the patient's own initiative or on the advice of pharmacist or any other lay person. Self-medication can be described as a double edged sword for its users, because it has both benecial and harmful effects. According to recent community based study in 2016 prevalence of self-medication in developing countries varies from 12% to as high as 73% in different communities. The objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of self-medication among the residents of urban slum of Kolkata r and to identify the factors associated with the practice of self-medication. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was done in the Tangra urban slum area of Kolkata. All the residents of selected slum who >18 years of age were selected. Atotal of 200 participants were randomly selected. Data on socio demographic details (age, gender, education, occupation, and income), practice of self-medication, and reasons for use of self-medication were collected. Results: Majority of the respondents were females 118 (59%) and maximum of the study participants were in the age group of 31- 60 years 96 (48%). The prevalence of self-medication was very high 138 (69%). Majority of the study participants preferred allopathy medicine 152 (76%). Pharmacist was the main source of information for practicing self-medication 118 (59%). Conclusions: Sessions of health education should be conducted to create awareness about side effects of self-medication. Govt should prepare and implement strict laws that without prescription of doctors no medicine should to given to anybody at the pharmacy.