Factors influencing self-medication among residents of Nakisunga village, Mukono district. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/rxrnt841Keywords:
Self-medication, Nakisunga village, Mukono District, UgandaAbstract
Background:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors influencing self-medication among residents of Nakisunga village, Mukono District, Uganda.
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 adult household members in Mukono District, from April 5 to May 5, 2017, and the respondents were interviewed during the study using the systematic random sampling method. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used for data collection using an interviewer-administered technique. Epi-Info version and SPSS version 22 were utilized for data entry and analysis, respectively.
Results:
Out of 100 respondents, 77% had ever done self-medication, and only 33% of respondents had not. Among these, women (52) used self-medication more than men (40), while 8 were not sure. Prevalence was also higher among people with low education levels (68) than those with a higher education level (32).
Among the factors associated with self-medication, 60% of the health workers did not have enough drugs, while 40% had drugs. Most of the respondents (54) stated that the health facility was far from their homes. The majority (76) also agreed that the government should include policies and measures that prevent self-medication, and the minority (24 ) disagreed.
Conclusion:
There is a high prevalence of self–medication among people, mostly among women than men. This was because of low education, the far distance of health facilities, and the low staffing of health facilities.
Recommendation:
The government should recruit more health workers at all levels of health facilities to prevent work overload and long waiting hours for patients.
Community members should be encouraged to start community income-generating activities to boost their socio-economic status, thus being able to afford new drugs every time they become ill.
References
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