Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia
Background: Expansion of pharmaceutical industries and improved availability of pharmaceuticals across the world have contributed to an increase in drug usage and accumulation in homes. Improper disposal of expired and unused medications has several consequences such as environmental pollution, and...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276623001506 |
| _version_ | 1797389380251287552 |
|---|---|
| author | Jerry Toe Edidiong Orok Patrick Erah |
| author_facet | Jerry Toe Edidiong Orok Patrick Erah |
| author_sort | Jerry Toe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Expansion of pharmaceutical industries and improved availability of pharmaceuticals across the world have contributed to an increase in drug usage and accumulation in homes. Improper disposal of expired and unused medications has several consequences such as environmental pollution, and childhood poisoning. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge on disposal as well as disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in the Parker Corner Road Community in Brewerville, Liberia. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 162 residents of Parker Corner Road Community using face-to-face interviews. Outcomes measured were knowledge of disposal as well as disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Majority of respondents (55.6%) were female and 23.5% had university education. 71% of the respondents reported that they had not received any information on safe disposal practices while 64.2% admitted that they often did not read and follow disposal instructions. The most popular disposal practices were disposal of the drugs along with household waste (61.1%) and flushing them down the toilets or sinks (25.3%). Majority of the respondents (82.1%) were aware of the health effects arising from improper disposal of unused and expired medicines while 64.2% usually read medicine disposal instruction on the package. Only about 3% of them knew of expired medication take-back system and 33.3% knew nothing about medication expiration date. Conclusion: The study revealed insufficient knowledge as well as inappropriate disposal practices of unused and expired medicines among residents of Parker Corner Road Community in Brewerville. There is need to organize a public enlightenment programme on safe, appropriate use, as well as disposal of unused and expired medicines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:56:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1fc365f03714351be287601186aa7e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-2766 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:56:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1fc365f03714351be287601186aa7e92023-12-16T06:10:56ZengElsevierExploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy2667-27662023-12-0112100369Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in LiberiaJerry Toe0Edidiong Orok1Patrick Erah2School of Pharmacy, University of Liberia, LiberiaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Public Health, College of Pharmacy, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin, NigeriaBackground: Expansion of pharmaceutical industries and improved availability of pharmaceuticals across the world have contributed to an increase in drug usage and accumulation in homes. Improper disposal of expired and unused medications has several consequences such as environmental pollution, and childhood poisoning. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge on disposal as well as disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in the Parker Corner Road Community in Brewerville, Liberia. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 162 residents of Parker Corner Road Community using face-to-face interviews. Outcomes measured were knowledge of disposal as well as disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Majority of respondents (55.6%) were female and 23.5% had university education. 71% of the respondents reported that they had not received any information on safe disposal practices while 64.2% admitted that they often did not read and follow disposal instructions. The most popular disposal practices were disposal of the drugs along with household waste (61.1%) and flushing them down the toilets or sinks (25.3%). Majority of the respondents (82.1%) were aware of the health effects arising from improper disposal of unused and expired medicines while 64.2% usually read medicine disposal instruction on the package. Only about 3% of them knew of expired medication take-back system and 33.3% knew nothing about medication expiration date. Conclusion: The study revealed insufficient knowledge as well as inappropriate disposal practices of unused and expired medicines among residents of Parker Corner Road Community in Brewerville. There is need to organize a public enlightenment programme on safe, appropriate use, as well as disposal of unused and expired medicines.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276623001506Pharmaceutical preparationsMedical waste disposalKnowledgeLiberia |
| spellingShingle | Jerry Toe Edidiong Orok Patrick Erah Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy Pharmaceutical preparations Medical waste disposal Knowledge Liberia |
| title | Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia |
| title_full | Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia |
| title_short | Assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in Liberia |
| title_sort | assessment of knowledge and disposal practices of unused and expired household medicines in a community in liberia |
| topic | Pharmaceutical preparations Medical waste disposal Knowledge Liberia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276623001506 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jerrytoe assessmentofknowledgeanddisposalpracticesofunusedandexpiredhouseholdmedicinesinacommunityinliberia AT edidiongorok assessmentofknowledgeanddisposalpracticesofunusedandexpiredhouseholdmedicinesinacommunityinliberia AT patrickerah assessmentofknowledgeanddisposalpracticesofunusedandexpiredhouseholdmedicinesinacommunityinliberia |