Patterns and Predictors of Self-Medication in NorthernUganda

Abstract

Self-medication with antimicrobial agents is a common form of self-care among patients globally with the prevalence andnature differing from country to country. Here we assessed the prevalence and predictors of antimicrobial self-medication inpost-conflict northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study was carried out using structured interviews on 892 adult ($18 years)participants. Information on drug name, prescriber, source, cost, quantity of drug obtained, and drug use was collected.Households were randomly selected using multistage cluster sampling method. One respondent who reported having anillness within three months in each household was recruited. In each household, information was obtained from only oneadult individual. Data was analyzed using STATA at 95% level of significance. The study found that a high proportion (75.7%)of the respondents practiced antimicrobial self-medication. Fever, headache, lack of appetite and body weakness were thedisease symptoms most treated through self-medication (30.3%). The commonly self-medicated antimicrobials werecoartem (27.3%), amoxicillin (21.7%), metronidazole (12.3%), and cotrimoxazole (11.6%). Drug use among respondents wasmainly initiated by self-prescription (46.5%) and drug shop attendants (57.6%). On average, participants obtained 13.968.8(95%CI: 12.6–13.8) tablets/capsules of antimicrobial drugs from drug shops and drugs were used for an average of 3.762.8days (95%CI: 3.3–3.5). Over half (68.2%) of the respondents would recommend self-medication to another sick person. Ahigh proportion (76%) of respondents reported that antimicrobial self-medication had associated risks such as wastage ofmoney (42.1%), drug resistance (33.2%), and masking symptoms of underlying disease (15.5%). Predictors of self-medicationwith antimicrobial agents included gender, drug knowledge, drug leaflets, advice from friends, previous experience, longwaiting time, and distance to the health facility. Despite knowledge of associated risks, use of self-medication withantimicrobial drugs in management of disease symptoms is a common practice in post-conflict northern Uganda