Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications
Background COVID-19 has led to restrictions on movements and lockdown measures, which have resulted to higher utilization of over-the-counter drugs compared to prescription-only drugs. This study determined the prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatme...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00429-9 |
| _version_ | 1827593272732680192 |
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| author | Chidinma Ihuoma Amuzie Kalu Ulu Kalu Michael Izuka Uche Ngozi Nwamoh Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu Franklin Odini Kingsley Metu Chigozie Ozurumba Ijeoma Nkem Okedo-Alex |
| author_facet | Chidinma Ihuoma Amuzie Kalu Ulu Kalu Michael Izuka Uche Ngozi Nwamoh Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu Franklin Odini Kingsley Metu Chigozie Ozurumba Ijeoma Nkem Okedo-Alex |
| author_sort | Chidinma Ihuoma Amuzie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background COVID-19 has led to restrictions on movements and lockdown measures, which have resulted to higher utilization of over-the-counter drugs compared to prescription-only drugs. This study determined the prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and November 2021 among the residents of Umuahia, Abia State. The respondents were selected using a snowball sampling technique, and a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the variables via Google forms. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using IBM SPSS version 26. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results A total of 469 respondents participated in the survey. The overall prevalence of self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatment was 30.3% (95%CI: 26.7–34.1). The most commonly used medication was herbal products (43.7%). This was mainly self-prepared (41.5%). The major source of information for self-medication was from family members (39.4%). The majority of the respondents reported fear of isolation (76.3%), followed by fear of stigmatization (75.7%) as the triggers of self-medication. Older age (aOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.11–3.13), lower educational status [No formal education (aOR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.28–11.19)], [Primary education (aOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.17–3.097)] and perception to cost (aOR = 2.29; 95CI: I.24–4.24) were the predictors of self-medication. Conclusion Every one in three residents of Umuahia, Abia State, practiced self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Some economic and socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with self-medication. We recommend intensifying public awareness campaigns on the risk of self-medication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:07:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c10495b765784fea820ae7b4c2b7ab54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:07:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-c10495b765784fea820ae7b4c2b7ab542023-12-07T15:28:04ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112022-12-0115110.1186/s40545-022-00429-912315340Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implicationsChidinma Ihuoma Amuzie0Kalu Ulu Kalu1Michael Izuka2Uche Ngozi Nwamoh3Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu4Franklin Odini5Kingsley Metu6Chigozie Ozurumba7Ijeoma Nkem Okedo-Alex8Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Department of Community Medicine,Background COVID-19 has led to restrictions on movements and lockdown measures, which have resulted to higher utilization of over-the-counter drugs compared to prescription-only drugs. This study determined the prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and November 2021 among the residents of Umuahia, Abia State. The respondents were selected using a snowball sampling technique, and a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the variables via Google forms. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using IBM SPSS version 26. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results A total of 469 respondents participated in the survey. The overall prevalence of self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatment was 30.3% (95%CI: 26.7–34.1). The most commonly used medication was herbal products (43.7%). This was mainly self-prepared (41.5%). The major source of information for self-medication was from family members (39.4%). The majority of the respondents reported fear of isolation (76.3%), followed by fear of stigmatization (75.7%) as the triggers of self-medication. Older age (aOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.11–3.13), lower educational status [No formal education (aOR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.28–11.19)], [Primary education (aOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.17–3.097)] and perception to cost (aOR = 2.29; 95CI: I.24–4.24) were the predictors of self-medication. Conclusion Every one in three residents of Umuahia, Abia State, practiced self-medication for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Some economic and socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with self-medication. We recommend intensifying public awareness campaigns on the risk of self-medication.http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00429-9covid-19self-medicationprevalencepatternpandemic |
| spellingShingle | Chidinma Ihuoma Amuzie Kalu Ulu Kalu Michael Izuka Uche Ngozi Nwamoh Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu Franklin Odini Kingsley Metu Chigozie Ozurumba Ijeoma Nkem Okedo-Alex Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice covid-19 self-medication prevalence pattern pandemic |
| title | Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications |
| title_full | Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications |
| title_short | Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications |
| title_sort | prevalence pattern and predictors of self medication for covid 19 among residents in umuahia abia state southeast nigeria policy and public health implications |
| topic | covid-19 self-medication prevalence pattern pandemic |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00429-9 |
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