European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE PREVALENCE RATE OF SELF MEDICATION AMONG THE PEOPLE RESIDING IN THE SELECTED COMMUNITIES OF MANGALURU

*Amrita Priya, Amrutha Raj, Anagha Mariya Siby, Aneesha P. N., Aneeshamol C. P. and Anisha Ashokan

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Self-care is a behavioural response of individuals to promote or restore their health. Self-medication is one form of self-care, which means obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician to treat self diagnosed illness. It has been found that inappropriate self-medication causes wastage of resources, increases resistance of pathogens and generally causes serious health hazards such as adverse drug reactions, prolonged suffering and drug dependence. This study was conducted to assess the self medication practices among selected communities in Mangaluru. Objectives: the study was carried out to assess the prevalence rate of self medication among the people residing in selected communities of Mangaluru and to find the association between prevalence rate of self medication and selected demographic variables. Materials and methods: a quantitative survey approach was used in the study, non probability convenience sampling technique was used to select 100 adults, data was gathered using the structured knowledge questionarre. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: There is no significant relationship between the prevalence rate and age of the samples (χ2= 0.54), gender (χ 2= 0.80), education (χ 2=0.43) occupation (χ 2= 0.89), monthly income (χ 2= 0.91), distance at which medical shop is situated (χ 2= 0.77), presence of medical professional at home (χ 2= 0.27), distance at which health centre is located (χ 2= 0.83), opinion from the pharmacist (χ 2= 0.28) and lack of time (χ 2= 0.27). Hence the hypothesis is nullified. Conclusion: the study concluded that There is no significant relationship between the prevalence rate and age of the samples (χ2= 0.54), gender (χ 2= 0.80), education (χ 2=0.43), occupation (χ 2= 0.89), monthly income (χ 2= 0.91), distance at which medical shop is situated (χ 2= 0.77), presence of medical professional at home (χ 2= 0.27), distance at which health center is located (χ 2= 0.83), opinion from the pharmacist (χ 2= 0.28) and lack of time (χ 2= 0.27).

Keywords: Self-medication practices, prevalence rate.