DETERMINANTS OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG COMMUNITY RESIDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Oyewole Omoniyi OLUSANYA

Abstract

The understanding of community health behaviour in relation to utilization of health services can help to ensure better access to quality healthcare and to large extent mitigate the idea and consequences of self-medication in effort to promote public health. Particularly, efforts geared towards prevention of non-communicable diseases in rural areas. The study examined the practice of self-medication among the people of Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. A self-designed structured questionnaire was employed to elicit information from two hundred respondents resident in the community; selected using volunteer sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The majority (83.5%) had practiced self-medication in the last two months. Community factors that influenced residents’ self-medication include poor availability of healthcare services (70.5%), distance (59.5%), cultural norms and beliefs (43.5%) drugs not affordable (60.5%), lack of trust in orthodox drugs (55.5%) and media (61.0%). Most (55%) obtained such drugs from hawkers, Over-The-Counter, (11%), hospital (18%) and other sources (16%). Individual reasons for recent unprescribed drugs intake include to save time (28%), finance (32.5%), confidence in knowledge of drug (10.5%), while (6.05%) desired quick relief. Among illness for recent drug use are cough/cold/sore throat (16.5%), headache/stomach ache (17.0%), menstrual symptoms (17.0%), diarrhoea (17.5%), fever (16.5%), and other (15.5%). Ever had drug-related adverse reactions from self medication (37.5%). Several community and personal factors continue to exacerbate self-medication; a situation that greatly impedes the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, stakeholders should gear efforts towards social and structural reforms that can reposition and predispose individual towards safer behaviour particularly among rural residents.

Keywords

Drug, Self-medication, Practice, Healthcare, Akungba Akoko

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