Preprint / Version 1

Prevalence, Pattern, and Reasons for Self-Medication: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study From Central India

Authors

  • Pragati Rathod Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Pushkar Masram Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Parvati Nair Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Sanju Gaikwad Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Uday Narlawar Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Suresh Ughade Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Bhagyashri Sonpimpale Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Ujwala Ukey Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Sarita Sharma Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND
  • Snigdha Pandey Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, IND

Keywords:

self-medication, community survey, cross sectional studies, reasons, pattern

Abstract

Introduction Self-medication is an important public health problem, with varied prevalence across the world. The high prevalence of self-medication in India is one of the important factors contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Self-medication without medical guidance can lead to inappropriate, incorrect, or undue therapy, missed diagnosis, delays in appropriate treatment, pathogen resistance, and increased morbidity. The growing trend of self-medication can be attributed to various factors like the urge for self-care, sympathy toward sick family members, inaccessible health services and nonavailability of drugs, time and financial constraints, ignorance, misbeliefs, extensive advertisement and availability of drugs in places other than drug shops. Methodology The present community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban field practice area of a tertiary health care center (UHTC) in Central India. Individuals above 18 years of age and present at home at the time of the house-to-house survey comprised the study participants. A total of 400 participants were enrolled in the study. Data were collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire by the face-to-face interview technique. Results The prevalence of self-medication in the area was 60 % (240). The most widely used drugs for self-medication were analgesics (159; 66.25%) and antipyretics (142; 59.16%). Common ailments for which self-medication was used frequently were fever, body aches, common cold, and cough. It was observed that female participants were twice more likely to self-medicate as compared to male participants (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.04; Prevalence (p) = 0.014, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% = 1.15-3.62). Additionally, those having education above the high school level had more chances of self-medicating than those educated less than high school (OR: 1.25; p≤0.014, CI 95%=1.05-1.50). The commonest reasons for resorting to self-medication as per the findings of the present study are that it saves time and the condition was not serious enough to warrant a physician’s consultation. Keywords: self-medication, community survey, cross sectional studies, reasons, pattern

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