Title : Strategies for self-medication practice amongst selected households in Ethiopian rural areas
Abstract:
This study investigated prevalence and determinants of self-medication practice, with the intention to develop a strategy to reduce irresponsible self-medication practice among rural households in Gimbichu district, Ethiopia. The study was quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional design. Multistage random sampling was employed to select 557 households. Of these, 284 insured and 257 non-insured (97.3%) were participated. Data was collected using pre-tested questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Data was entered, cleaned and analysed using SPSS version 24. Multilevel binary logistic regression was undertaken. Overall, 66.3% of households practiced self-medication (insured, 54.9% vs non-insured, 78.6%). Herbal/home remedies were the dominant self-medication products, followed by analgesics/antipyretics and antibiotics. Sources of information for selfmedication were previous experience (63.7%) and family/neighbours (53.4%). Major self-medicated ailments were fever, pain including headache, and RTI. CBHI, education, relation to household head, self-efficacy, medicines at home, perceived quality of healthcare, travel time, transportation, health status, number of illnesses, previous same illness and illness duration were independent predictors of self-medication among the general households. While, marital status, relation to household head, self-efficacy, medicines hoarding, perceived quality of healthcare, health status, number of illnesses, previous same illness and severity of illness were predictors in the insured, self-efficacy, medicines hoarded at homes and severity of illness were contributed in the noninsured households.
Briefly, this study would serve as baseline in the effort geared to address irrational self-medication in rural settings. Ministry of health, district health office, professionals and CBHI schemes should develop strategies that could address contributors of irrational self-medication practices in Ethiopia.
Keywords: community-based health insurance, members, non-members, household, practice, rural areas, self-medication, strategy and utilisation
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Raise awareness and understanding on the magnitude and pattern good and dangers of self-medication
- practice using unlicensed products
- Provide information about the determinant factors that influence irresponsible self-medication practice
- Provide practical solution to irresponsible self-medication practice through sharing the developed strategies for the improvement of responsible self-medication practice by community based health insurance beneficiary and non-beneficiary rural households
- Provide baseline information which may serve in the effort geared to address irresponsible selfmedication and improve responsible self-medication practice in rural settings
