Self-medication practice in Sire town, West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Year 2016, Volume: 41 Issue: 3, 447 - 452, 30.09.2016

Ayana Jaleta Shibiru Tesema Belay Yimam

https://doi.org/10.17826/cukmedj.237467

Cited By: 5

Abstract

Purpose: A considerable number of individuals in developing countries do not attend physicians for their illnesses; instead they commonly use self-medication. Although responsible self-medication with over the counter (OTC) drugs is often acceptable and promoted as one form of self-care, self-medication with prescription drugs is inappropriate and should always be discouraged. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of self-medication and associated factors in Sire town, West Ethiopia. 

Material and Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted on 423 households, which were selected systematically. Data was collected by using semi-structured questionnaire.

Results: 243 individuals in 230 households perceived illness two weeks prior to the study. Out of them, 66 (27.16%) used self-medication. The practice of self-medication was not significantly associated with sex, educational status, occupation and income of the patients or caregivers. The most frequent illness reported for self-medication was headache (37.89%). Most (84.84%) of the drugs used for self-medication were obtained from drug stores. The relatively lower cost was the major, 21 (31.82%), reason for using self-medication. Analgesics were the largest category of medicinal agents used for self-medication 34(40.96%), followed by antibiotics 20(24.10%), traditional medicines 17(20.48%), antimalarials 4(4.71%), and anthelminthics 3(3.53%).

Conclusion: Self-medication was practiced by considerably large number of the study participants. The prevalence of self-medication with prescription drugs like antimicrobials was also high. Self-medication with these drugs without medical consultation may lead to inappropriate use and thereby contribute to emergence of drug resistance.

Keywords

self-medication, practice, reason

Batı Etiyopya’nın Sire şehrinde kendi kendine tedavi uygulaması: kesitsel çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Gelişmekte olan ülkelerde bireylerin büyük kısmı, hastalıkları için doktora gitmek yerine kendi kendine tedavi yöntemlerini kullanmaktadır. Kendi kendine tedavide genelde reçetesiz ilaçlar kullanılmakta ve kişisel bakımın bir formu olarak desteklenmekteyse de reçeteli ilaçlar kişisel tedaviye uygun olmayıp desteklenmemelidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Batı Etiyopya’nın Sire şehrinde kendi kendine tedavi ve ilgili faktörlerin sıklığının saptanmasıdır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Toplum tabanlı bu kesitsel çalışma, sistematik olarak seçilmiş 423 aile ile yapılmıştır. Çalışmada veriler yarı yapılandırılmış anket ile toplanmıştır.Bulgular: 230 aileden 243 bireyde, çalışmadan 2 hafta öncesinde hastalık farkedilmiştir, onların dışında, 66 birey (%27.16) kendi kendine tedavi kullanmıştır. Kendi kendine tedavi uygulaması ile hasta ve hasta bakıcısının cinsiyet, eğitim seviyesi, meslek ve kazancı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamıştır (P>0.05). Kendi kendine tedavi için en sık karşılaşılan hastalık başağrısıdır. (%37.89). Kendi kendine tedavi için kullanılan ilaçların çoğu (84.84%) eczanelerden sağlanmaktadır. Kendi kendine tedavi uygulamasının en önemli nedeni düşük fiyattır, 21 (%31.82). Tıbbi ajanlar arasında en fazla kullanılanlar analjeziklerdir 34(%40.96), bunları takiben antibiyotikler 20(%24.10), geleneksel ilaçlar 17(%20.48), sıtma ilaçları 4(%4.71) ve solucanlara karşı olan ilaçlar 3(%3.53) gelmektedir.Sonuç: Kendi kendine tedavi çalışması çok sayıda katılımcı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Antimikrobiyaller gibi reçeteli ilaçlarla uygulanan kendi kendine tedavi sıklığı da oldukça yüksektir. Bu tür ilaçların tıbbi danışma almadan kullanılması uygun olmayan kullanıma ve sonuçta ilaç direncine neden olabilmektedir.

Keywords

Kendi kendine tedavi, uygulama, reçeteli ilaçlar

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