Self-Medication in Africa during COVID-19 Pandemic

Zainab Ismail;  Anmol Mohan;  Christophe Ngendahayo;  Abdullahi Tunde Aborode; Arooj Abid;  Ana Carla dos Santos Costa;  Shoaib Ahmad; Mohammad Yasir Essar

doi:10.24926/iip.v12i4.4234

Self-Medication in Africa during COVID-19 Pandemic

INNOVATIONS in pharmacy ◽

10.24926/iip.v12i4.4234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Zainab Ismail ◽

Anmol Mohan ◽

Christophe Ngendahayo ◽

Abdullahi Tunde Aborode ◽

Arooj Abid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Problem ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Self Medication ◽

Critical Stage ◽

Home Remedies

Self-medication is known as “the usage of drugs, herbs or home remedies on one’s own initiative, or on the advice of another person, without consulting a doctor’. In Africa, self-medication has reached a critical stage, with people using and taking any drug regardless of how poisonous the material may be as long as unprofessional suggestions advocate it as a solution to their health problem. In this article, we looked at the consequences, effects, and recommendations for reducing the use of self-medication as a habit among Africans.

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Comparing Hospital and Primary Care Physicians’ Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding Antibiotic Prescribing: A Survey within the Centre Region of Portugal

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10060629 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 629

Author(s):

António Teixeira Rodrigues ◽

João C. F. Nunes ◽

Marta Estrela ◽

Adolfo Figueiras ◽

Fátima Roque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Health Problem ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Self Medication ◽

Centre Region ◽

Attitudes And Knowledge

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem, leading to longer hospital stays, raising medical costs and mortality levels. As physicians’ attitudes are key factors to antibiotic prescribing, this study sought to explore their differences between primary care and hospital settings. Methods: A survey was conducted between September 2011 and February 2012 in the center region of Portugal in the form of a questionnaire to compare hospital (n = 154) and primary care (n = 421) physicians’ attitudes and knowledge regarding antibiotic prescribing. Results: More than 70% of the attitudes were statistically different (p < 0.05) between hospital physicians (HPs) and primary care physicians (PCPs). When compared to PCPs, HPs showed higher agreement with antibiotic resistances being a public health problem and ascribed more importance to microbiological tests and to the influence of prescription on the development of resistances. On the other hand, PCPs tended to agree more regarding the negative impact of self-medication with antibiotics dispensed without medical prescription and the need for rapid diagnostic tests. Seven out of nine sources of knowledge’s usefulness were statistically different between both settings, with HPs considering most of the knowledge sources to be more useful than PCPs. Conclusions: Besides the efforts made to improve both antibiotic prescribing and use, there are differences in the opinions between physicians working in different settings that might impact the quality of antibiotic prescribing. In the future, these differences must be considered to develop more appropriate interventions.

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Prevalence of self-medication in Brazil and associated factors

Revista de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/s1518-8787.2016050006117 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 50 (suppl 2) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Paulo Sérgio Dourado Arrais ◽

Maria Eneida Porto Fernandes ◽

Tatiane da Silva Dal Pizzol ◽

Luiz Roberto Ramos ◽

Sotero Serrate Mengue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

Population Based ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Population Based Study ◽

The North ◽

Using Data ◽

Prevalence Ratios ◽

Use Of Health Services

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the prevalence and associated factors regarding the use of medicines by self-medication in Brazil. METHODS This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted using data from the PNAUM (National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), collected between September 2013 and February 2014 by interviews at the homes of the respondents. All people who reported using any medicines not prescribed by a doctor or dentist were classified as self-medication practitioners. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (Poisson regression) and their respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated in order to investigate the factors associated with the use of self-medication by medicines. The independent variables were: sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions and access to and use of health services. In addition, the most commonly consumed medicines by self-medication were individually identified. RESULTS The self-medication prevalence in Brazil was 16.1% (95%CI 15.0–17.5), with it being highest in the Northeast region (23.8%; 95%CI 21.6–26.2). Following the adjusted analysis, self-medication was observed to be associated with females, inhabitants from the North, Northeast and Midwest regions and individuals that have had one, or two or more chronic diseases. Analgesics and muscle relaxants were the therapeutic groups most used for self-medication, with dipyrone being the most consumed medicines. In general, most of the medicines used for self-medication were classified as non-prescriptive (65.5%). CONCLUSIONS Self-medication is common practice in Brazil and mainly involves the use of non-prescription medicines; therefore, the users of such should be made aware of the possible risks.

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Use of self-medication among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/cku207 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 444-450 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

M. R. Gualano ◽

F. Bert ◽

S. Passi ◽

M. Stillo ◽

V. Galis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Self Medication

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Self-medication, home remedies, and spiritual healing: common responses to everyday symptoms in Pakistan

Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1080/21642850.2015.1088387 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 281-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mudassir Anwar ◽

James A. Green ◽

Pauline Norris ◽

Nadeem I. Bukhari

Keyword(s):

Spiritual Healing ◽

Self Medication ◽

Home Remedies

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Self-Medication Practices among Parents in Italy

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/580650 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Luca Garofalo ◽

Gabriella Di Giuseppe ◽

Italo F. Angelillo

Keyword(s):

Public Schools ◽

Health Problem ◽

School Level ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Self Medication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Secondary School Level ◽

Inflammatory Drugs ◽

Potential Impact

The aims of this cross-sectional survey were to document the prevalence, the determinants, and the reasons of oral medication use without the prescription of a physician among a random sample of 672 parents of students attending randomly selected public schools in Italy. A total of 69.2% practiced self-medication at least once. The odds of having performed a self-medication were higher in females, in younger population, and in those who have had a health problem in the preceding year and were lower in respondents with a middle or lower school level of education. Among those reporting experience of self-medication, 53.4% have practiced at least once in the last year and this was more likely for those who have had a health problem. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were more frequently used without a prescription in the last year. Two-thirds inappropriately self-medicated in the last year at least once. Of those who did not report a self-medication, 13.1% were willing to practice it. Females were more willing and those with a secondary school level of education less willing to practice self-medication. The frequency of oral self-medication was quite high and in most cases inappropriate with a potential impact on the health status and educative programs are needed.

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Self-medication habits during the COVID-19 pandemic

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab120.011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

Erica Campos ◽

Margarida Espírito-Santo ◽

Tânia Nascimento

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Prescription Drugs ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Self Medication ◽

Portuguese Population ◽

Similar Frequency ◽

Low Health Literacy ◽

Number Of Visits

Abstract Background Self-medication is a common practice worldwide. During COVID-19 pandemic, the constant fear of going outside and to use health services may have had an impact in the number of visits to Community Pharmacies. This research aimed to study self-medication habits of the Portuguese population during the current pandemic, more specifically, to understand which non-prescription drugs and food supplements were taken and the situations that conduced to the use of self-medication. Methods An online structured survey was conducted, with data obtained anonymously and included 170 participants (≥18 years). Data were processed using SPSS v26. Results Participants in this study were mainly female (81.2%), with a mean age of 38.01 ± 1.16 years old and most (84.7%) over 12 years of schooling. Answers allowed to verify that the current pandemic didn’t affect that much the frequency of visits to Pharmacy and the situations where people used self-medication were mainly minor, such as headaches (54.1%) and muscle pains (26.5%). The medications used more often were analgesics (60.0%) and anti-inflammatory (40.0%). However, many people indicated that they didńt seek for more information about medicines (49.4%) and/or supplements (7.6%) used during this period. In general, people visited the Pharmacy with a similar frequency and purpose as the previous year. Conclusions Despite all the changes, the current pandemic has not negatively affected the practice of self-medication. The role of Pharmacy professionals in the rational use of the drugs, particularly those used in self medicated situations is essential, especially when the population shows low health literacy regarding the use of medicines.

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Intoxicação medicamentosa

Revista Científica FAEMA ◽

10.31072/rcf.v8i1.449 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 135

Author(s):

Claudiana Aguilar Gonçalves ◽

Cleide Avilar Gonçalves ◽

Valdeir Areia dos Santos Areia Dos Santos ◽

Leandro Sarturi ◽

André Tomaz Terra Júnior

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Information System ◽

Drug Use ◽

Health Problem ◽

Age Groups ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Self Medication ◽

Rational Use

As intoxicações medicamentosas esta se tornando um problema alarmante de saúde publica segundo publicado pelo Sistema Nacional de Informações Tóxico-Farmacológicas (SINITOX) Os medicamentos ocupam o primeiro lugar nas intoxicações no Brasil. O propósito do presente artigo tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica dos casos de intoxicações medicamentosas envolvendo todas faixas etárias e as causas determinantes. Fazendo necessária destacar o papel do Profissional farmacêutico, para dispensarão orientação alem de prestar Assistência farmacêutica quanto ao uso racional de medicamentos em todos os aspectos da farmacoterapia. ABSTRACT: Drug intoxications are becoming an alarming public health problem as published by the National Toxic-Pharmacological Information System (SINITOX). Medicines are the number one poisoning in Brazil. The purpose of this article is to carry out a bibliographical review of the cases of drug intoxications involving all age groups and the determining causes. Making it necessary to highlight the role of the pharmaceutical professional, for dispensing guidance as well as providing pharmaceutical assistance regarding the rational use of drugs in all aspects of pharmacotherapy. This study is a review of the literature covering drug intoxications, indiscriminate drug use and self-medication. The main causes of this problem are the abusive use of the drug due to lack of knowledge about its dosage and administration, prescription errors and self-medication.

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