Self-medication practices versus health of the community

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a common practice worldwide and the irrational use of drugs is a cause of concern. Self-medication involves the use of medicinal products by the individuals to treat self-recognized disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continuous use of a medication prescribed by a physician for chronic or recurring diseases or symptoms. The objectives of the study were to find out the prevalence of self-medication practices in the community; to describe the common conditions where self-medication is practiced.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in a rural population at Kuthambakkam village, Tamil Nadu from February 2015 to July 2015. This village falls under the rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College and hospital, Thandalam. There were 1175 households in this village of which 165 households were identified for the study purpose using simple random sampling technique. Statistical analysis: Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 16 software. Descriptive statistics were calculated for background variables, attitude and practices of self-medication. Results: The study was conducted in 165 households in Kuthambakkam village, the rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College. The median age of the study participants was 38 years. The minimum age was 17 and maximum was 77 years. 73 (44.2%) of study subjects reported having health problems currently. Of them, 76.7% replied they consulted a doctor for their problem, 17.8% resorted to self-medication and rest 5.5% took native treatment at home. Conclusions: It is imperative to address the practice of self-medication among the people in the age of growing drug resistance being reported. Periodic studies on the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication may give an insight into the pattern of drug use among the people.

Consumption of over-the-Counter Drugs: Prevalence and Type of Drugs

“…However, the consumption of drugs prescribed by medical practitioners was higher, as well as the presence of chronic diseases. These results, although at a lower percentage (23%), were similar to those obtained by Dutta et al in a rural population [ 20 ]. This may be due to different factors such as: the availability of these drugs in pharmacies, the consumption of advertising through the media and social networks [ 21 ], the greater presence of acute illness, lifestyle, and living in an urban population.…”

Extent of and Factors Associated with Self-Medication among Clients Visiting Community Pharmacies in the Era of COVID-19: Does It Relieve the Possible Impact of the Pandemic on the Health-Care System?

“…In this study, the extent of self-medication was found to be 73.6%, relatively similar to studies in Pakistan (64%), 43 Bangladesh (71.4%), 44 and Ethiopia (71.4%) 8 that were conducted in the analogous context of the COVID-19 pandemic, though greater than findings in Brazil (14.9%), 45 Tamil Nadu (17.8%), 46 Saudi Arabia (35.4%), 47 and India (35.1%). 14 Other results from Ethiopia in different towns further strengthen this difference: Welaita Soddo (33.7%), 48 Jijiga (37.5%), 2 Dessie (42.4%), 49 and Gonder (50.2%).…”

Comparative study to determine self-medication practice and pattern in urban and rural areas of Etawah district

“…This study was conducted among 200 participants in urban and 200 in rural area. This study revealed that in urban and rural area most of the participants are males [15][16][17] In the present study most of the participants in urban area belonged to nuclear family (51.0%) and rest are belonged to joint (26.5%) and three generation family (22.5%) while in rural area half of the participants belonged to joint family and those belonging to nuclear family were (40.0%) and three generation family (10%) respectively. On the other hand study conducted by Dutta et al in Chennai, Tamil Nadu reported that 62.5% participants were belong to nuclear family and rest are belong to third generation and joint family.…”

“…On the other hand study conducted by Dutta et al in Chennai, Tamil Nadu reported that 62.5% participants were belong to nuclear family and rest are belong to third generation and joint family. 15 In urban and rural areas most of the people were educated upto middle grade of education (22.0%, 27.5%) followed by illiterate ( 18,19 The difference in educational status is because of difference in literacy rate in different place of previous study The difference observed is mainly because of difference in socio-economic status condition in the various study areas.…”