Assessment of Self- Medication Practice and Contribution Factor in Arada Sub City Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: - a number of individuals in developing countries do not attend physicians for their illnesses; instead they commonly use self-medication. Self-medication could be using drugs existing in home like over the counter (OCT) drugs, traditional medicine or non- pharmacological action. Aim of this study was to assess the practice of self-medication in Arada Sub city town, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaMethods: - a community based cross sectional study was carried out in Arada sub City from Feb 20 to Feb 27, 2019. Data was collected by Semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaire, consisting questions on general demographic, socio-economic as well as on perceived illness /symptoms in two weeks recall period and actions taken for it; and administered to respondents of the 412 systematically selected households. The data was analyzed and presented using tables and chi-square calculation.Result: - Out of the 386 individuals with perceived illness, 142 (39.9%) were self-medicated and females 82 (58.27%) were more self-medicated than males. The most frequent illness/symptom reported for self-medication was fever (40.6%). Most of the drugs (41.95%) used for self-medication were obtained from drug retail outlets, and previous experience for the perceived low severity of illness/symptoms (41.1%) was the main reason for self-medication.Conclusion & Recommendation:- Self-medication is widely practiced for a wide range of illnesses/symptoms and by using OTC drugs, prescription only drugs and also traditional medicine/non-pharmacological action. The public as well as the health care providers have to be educated on the scope of self-medication; i.e., the type of illnesses to be self-diagnosed and self-treated, and the type of drug products to be used in order to promote responsible self-medication.

Keywords: Self-medication; Arada subcity, OTC drug

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/74-02

Publication date:May 31^st 2020