Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study
Objectives: This study aimed to determine self-medication prevalence and its associated factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban and rural catchment areas of Uttar Pradesh, India, among 440 adults using a pretested, semistructured questionnaire. The Chi-sq...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-03-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241240507 |
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| author | Khushboo Juneja Ambren Chauhan Tuhina Shree Priyanka Roy Mainak Bardhan Absar Ahmad Amit Singh Pawaiya Ayush Anand |
| author_facet | Khushboo Juneja Ambren Chauhan Tuhina Shree Priyanka Roy Mainak Bardhan Absar Ahmad Amit Singh Pawaiya Ayush Anand |
| author_sort | Khushboo Juneja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: This study aimed to determine self-medication prevalence and its associated factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban and rural catchment areas of Uttar Pradesh, India, among 440 adults using a pretested, semistructured questionnaire. The Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to determine the association of self-medication prevalence with various independent variables. The associations were reported as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The prevalence of medication use was 66.4%. The majority of participants (45%) took medicine for fever, cough (40.1%), and cold (31.8%). Allopathy (83.2%) was the most common medicine system used for self-medication. More than half reported taking medicine such as paracetamol (52%), followed by cough syrup (21%) and antihistaminic (17%). Convenience (46%) and lack of time (35.3%) were commonly cited reasons for self-medication. Also, 64.4% of the respondents practiced self-medication on the pharmacist’s recommendation. Urban participants (adjusted odds ratio: 9.85, 95% confidence interval: 5.32–18.23), females (adjusted odds ratio: 2.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.18–4.57), skilled workers (adjusted odds ratio: 5.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.80–17.5), and those who completed primary school (adjusted odds ratio: 2.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–5.25) were more likely to self-medicate than rural, male, unemployed, and illiterate participants, respectively. Also, participants whose income was 30,000 Indian rupees (adjusted odds ratio: 3.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–10.21) were more likely to self-medicate than those whose income was less than 4000. Conclusions: A high prevalence of self-medication was found, particularly in urban areas. Convenience and lack of time were commonly cited reasons for self-medication. Allopathy was the most widely used medicine system for self-medication. Antipyretics, cough syrups, and antiallergics were most commonly self-medicated. Gender, education, and income were associated with self-medication. The study highlighted the increased usage among females which could be further explored and role of pharmacists’ recommendation as a major driver for self-medication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:11:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eab02785799a49b6b05ab23e3f23b01c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3121 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:11:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-eab02785799a49b6b05ab23e3f23b01c2024-03-26T10:03:48ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medicine2050-31212024-03-011210.1177/20503121241240507Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional studyKhushboo Juneja0Ambren Chauhan1Tuhina Shree2Priyanka Roy3Mainak Bardhan4Absar Ahmad5Amit Singh Pawaiya6Ayush Anand7Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Alwar, Rajasthan, IndiaDepartment of Labor, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata, IndiaMiami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Coral Gables, FL, USARanchi Veterinary College, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaB.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, NepalObjectives: This study aimed to determine self-medication prevalence and its associated factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban and rural catchment areas of Uttar Pradesh, India, among 440 adults using a pretested, semistructured questionnaire. The Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to determine the association of self-medication prevalence with various independent variables. The associations were reported as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The prevalence of medication use was 66.4%. The majority of participants (45%) took medicine for fever, cough (40.1%), and cold (31.8%). Allopathy (83.2%) was the most common medicine system used for self-medication. More than half reported taking medicine such as paracetamol (52%), followed by cough syrup (21%) and antihistaminic (17%). Convenience (46%) and lack of time (35.3%) were commonly cited reasons for self-medication. Also, 64.4% of the respondents practiced self-medication on the pharmacist’s recommendation. Urban participants (adjusted odds ratio: 9.85, 95% confidence interval: 5.32–18.23), females (adjusted odds ratio: 2.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.18–4.57), skilled workers (adjusted odds ratio: 5.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.80–17.5), and those who completed primary school (adjusted odds ratio: 2.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–5.25) were more likely to self-medicate than rural, male, unemployed, and illiterate participants, respectively. Also, participants whose income was 30,000 Indian rupees (adjusted odds ratio: 3.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–10.21) were more likely to self-medicate than those whose income was less than 4000. Conclusions: A high prevalence of self-medication was found, particularly in urban areas. Convenience and lack of time were commonly cited reasons for self-medication. Allopathy was the most widely used medicine system for self-medication. Antipyretics, cough syrups, and antiallergics were most commonly self-medicated. Gender, education, and income were associated with self-medication. The study highlighted the increased usage among females which could be further explored and role of pharmacists’ recommendation as a major driver for self-medication.https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241240507 |
| spellingShingle | Khushboo Juneja Ambren Chauhan Tuhina Shree Priyanka Roy Mainak Bardhan Absar Ahmad Amit Singh Pawaiya Ayush Anand Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study SAGE Open Medicine |
| title | Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Self-medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in Northern India: A community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | self medication prevalence and associated factors among adult population in northern india a community based cross sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241240507 |
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