Study on Awareness about Self-Medications and it's Complications Among Homemakers

Suchithra B. S.

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1708698

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Original Article

7 (

); 61-65

doi:

10.1055/s-0040-1708698

Study on Awareness about Self-Medications and it's Complications Among Homemakers

Suchithra B. S.^1,

1Assitant Professor, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences, Paneer, Mangalore

Corresponding Author: Suchithra B.S, Asst. Professor, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences, Paneer, Mangalore - 574160, Mobile: +919980185750, E-mail: suchibs@yahoo.co.in

Received: 2016-12-01, Accepted: 2017-01-28, Epub ahead of print: 2020-04-22, Published: 2017-3-1

Licence

This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited.

Disclaimer:
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.

Abstract

Self-medication is mostly advanced practice worldwide and often considered as a component of self-care. However, unlike other components of self-care, self-medication has the potential to do good as well as cause harm since it involves the use many kinds of drugs. The practice of selfmedication must be based on authentic medical information otherwise irrational use of drugs can cause wastage of resources, increased resistance of pathogens, and also can lead to serious health hazards such as adverse drug reaction and prolonged morbidity

Objectives of the study

To assess the occurrence of self-medication among homemakers.
To find the level of awareness and it's complications of self-medication among the homemakers.

Research methodology of the study

Research design for the present study is descriptive research design. The design was used to assess the prevalence of self-medication among homemakers and their awareness about selfmedication and its complications, at selected areas in Nitte village. The purposive sampling technique is used to select samples for the study. Sample size was about 100 homemakers and the population belonged to selected areas in Nittte village.

Keywords

self-medication

homemaker

awareness

prevalence

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Introduction

According to WHO self-medication is defined as the selection and the use of medicines by individuals to treat self recognized illness or symptoms. Self-medication is one element of self-care. Self-medication can take place through the consumption of industrialized or manipulated medicines or the use of home remedies (teas, herbs etc) and include various type of activities – acquiring medicines without prescription, resubmitting old prescriptions to purchase medicines, sharing medicines with relatives or member of one social circle, using left over medicines stored at home or failing to comply with professional prescription either by prolonging it or interrupting it too early or decreasing or increasing the originally prescribed dosage.

Medications are one of the main options in the cure, treatment, and prevention of numerous medical conditions. Intact, medications are the primary treatment client associate with restoration of health.

The consumption of medications can be considered an indirect indicator of the quality of health care services. Children and adolescent s are strongly susceptible to the irrational use of drugs with and without medical control. Economic political and cultural factors have contributed to the growth and spread of self-medication worldwide. These factors are related with aspects such as the great availability of products in the current days; the state of health that a pharmaceutical agent may represent; irresponsible publicity; pressure to convert prescription –only drugs ;quality of health care ;difficult access to health care services in poor countries.

Statement of the problem

A descriptive study on awareness about self-medications and it’s complications among homemakers at selected areas in NITTE village.

Objectives of the study

To assess the occurrence of self-medication among homemakers.
To find the level of awareness and it's complications of self-medication among the homemakers.

Research approach

Research approach indicates the basic procedure for conducting research. In this study descriptive study approach, which is coming under quantitative approach is adopted.

Research design

Research deign is a blue print for conducting a study. It refers to the researcher’s overall plan for obtaining answer to the research questions for testing the research hypothesis. In this study descriptive research design was selected, which is a descriptive survey design was adopted.

Setting of the study

The setting is where the population or the sample being studied is located and where the study is carried out. The study was conducted at selected areas in NITTE village.

Population

Population consists of the entire set of individuals having some common characteristics sometimes refers to as universe. In the present study population consists of homemakers at selected areas in NITTE village.

Sample

A sample is a subset of a population selected to participate in research study. The sample for the study comprised of 100 homemakers from the population aged above 25 years who are residing at selected areas in NITTE village.

Sampling techniques

Sampling technique is a process of selecting subjects who are representatives of the population being studied. For the present study purposive sampling technique was chosen for the study which comes under non-probability sampling technique.

Sampling criteria

The following criteria were set for the selection of the sample:

Instruments used

Research instruments are the devices used to collect data. Following are the tools used in the present study:

Demographic proforma.
Checklist to assess the prevalence of self-medication and the level of awareness about self-medication and it’s complications among homemakers.

Data collection process

Data was collected from 100 homemakers residing at selected areas in NITTE village. The purpose of the study was explained to the homemakers. Informed written consent was obtained. Confidentiality was assured to all subjects to get their cooperation. A total of 100 who followed the inclusion criteria were taken for the study, sample were collected by using purposive sampling technique. Then the tool was administered to the mothers and it was explained. The mothers were encouraged to clarify their doubts.

Results

Reason for using self-medication The present study revealed that out of 85 homemakers 22 are practicing self-medication because of lack of time, while 53 because of mild illness and 10 due to emergency situations

Bar diagram showing method of procurement of medicines used for Self-medication among homemakers (n=85).

Sources of drugs for self-medication The present study revealed that out of 85 homemakers 82 are using previous prescriptions for obtaining medications and 3 from their friends.

Frequency of self-medication The present study revealed that out of 85 homemakers, only 1 is practicing self-medication very frequently, 78 are practicing frequently and 6 are taking self-medications occasionally.

Table 1: Distribution of demographic characteristics of the subjects

Demographic characteristics (n=100)	Frequency	Percentage(%)
Age (yrs)	Less than 30	18	18
	31 – 40	45	45
	41 – 50	16	16
	More than 51	21	21
Marital status	Married	100	100
Educational status	No formal	26	26
	Primary	69	69
	Higher primary	5	5
Area of residence	Rural	100	100
Type of family	Nuclear	55	55
Joint	45	45

Description of the sample characteristics were based on age of the mother, marital status educational status, area of residence and type of family.

Table 2: Reported Practice of self-medication (n=85)

Diseases	Practice of self medication	Frequency
Fever	Not taking medication	2
Fever	Taking medications	83
Headache	Not taking medication	39
Headache	Taking medication	46
Vomiting	Not taking medication	82
Vomiting	Taking medication	3
Diarrhea	Not taking medication	83
Diarrhea	Taking medication	2
Dysmenorrheal	Not taking medication	61
Dysmenorrheal	Taking medication	24
Cough	Not taking medication	51
Cough	Taking medication	34
Reason for using self medication	No time	22
	Mild illness	53
	Emergency	10
	Previous good response	0
Method of procurement	Previous prescriptions	37
	Remembering names of drugs	47
	Stored drugs at home	1
	Telling symptoms to pharmacist	0
Source of	medication	used	Previous prescriptions	82
	Friends	3
	Relatives	0
	Frequency of self-medication	Very frequent	1
Frequent		78
Occasional		6

Table 3: Level of awareness of self medication among homemakers.

Level of awareness	Frequency
Level of awareness	YES	NO
Are you taking any self - medication?	85	15
Do you buy medication from nearby : Pharmacy	85	0
Do you seek advice from neighbors, friends, and relatives before consuming medications apart from doctors?	77	8
Do you consume any other medication apart from allopathic medication?	76	9
Whether you watch advertisements before taking medications?	19	66
Do you consider the dosage before taking medications?	18	67
Do you follow the instructions of the doctor, given during the last visit for similar illness?	63	22
Do you have the habit of stocking emergency medications?	83	2
Do you have the habit of taking medications without any particular reason?	3	82
Whether you increase the dosage of the medication for the same problem if you did not get relief?	67	18
Are you getting any satisfaction while taking self-medication?	58	27
Before taking medication do you check the expiry date?	10	75
Do you think whether the self medication is useful?	67	18
Whether you will give self medication to family members?	42	43
Do you read the content of the medicine before taking?	6	79
Do you have any habit of taking same medication for different symptoms?	0	85
Do you prefer self medication for under five children?	4	81
Did you take self medication for major illness?	1	84
Did you keep medications in safe place?	72	13
Whether you keep the self medications away from the children?	83	2
Whether you take self medication in your antenatal period?	20	65
Do you know about the after effect of the medication which you are consuming?	10	75
Whether you discard the left over medications?	14	71
Did you experience any side effects of self medications?	4	81
Have you stopped the self medication after experiencing side effects?	13	72
Do you consult doctor after experiencing side effects?	13	72
Have you experienced side effect while increasing the dosage?	4	81
Do you consume any medications to reduce side effects?	6	79
Are you aware that chronic dose of self-medication can damage your liver?
dose of self-medication can damage your liver?	21	64

Level of Awareness

The present study revealed that out of 85 homemakers 43 are having poor knowledge about self-medication and it’s complications whereas 39 are having average knowledge and only 3 are having good knowledge.

Conclusion

The findings of the study makes it clear that the prevalence of self-medication among homemakers is high despite of poor level of awareness about self-medication and it’s complication i.e present study revealed that out of 85 homemakers 43 are having poor knowledge about self-medication and it’s complications whereas 39 are having average knowledge and only 3 are having good knowledge.

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