SELF MEDICATION PRACTICES

Abstract

Introduction: Obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of physician either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance
is called Self medication. Self medication has been a natural tendency of mankind at all times to relief their discomfort. Objectives: To assess
the self medication practices and the factors influencing self medication practices among the people living in Ghulam Mohammad Abad,
Faisalabad. Study design: A Descriptive Cross -Sectional Study. Setting: Population of Ghulam Mohammad Abad, largest colony of
Faisalabad. Material & methods: By simple random technique a sample of 369 people living in Ghulam Mohammad Abad were selected. A pre
-tested questionnaire was filled by interviewing each individual. Results: Prevalence of self medication found in study group was 61.20%. An
increase pattern of self medication practices were found in the younger age group (15-35 years) which were 64.8 %. Self medication practice
was found more in male (64.5%) as compared to female (58.5%). The unmarried persons as compared to married were involved 8% more in self
medication. Similarly 11% increase pattern of self medication was observed amongst the respondents belonging to nuclear family (66.9%) as
compared to extended type of family status (55.9%). There were 13.60% more practices of self medication in urban population (64.2%) as
compared to rural (50.6%) and self medication was observed in illiterate (50.4%) and in matric level education (62.3%) and persons having
education above matric (74.4%). The prevalence of self medication was more among skilled labor (75.9%) as compared to (54.9%) in unskilled
labor. Conclusions: An increase pattern of self medication practices were found in the younger age group. As for as the gender is concerned it
is more in the male as compared to female. Unmarried persons as compared to married persons were involved more in self medication. It is
more in persons belonging to nuclear family status and also more in urban population as compared to rural population. Furthermore uneducated
and respondents having education up to matric are more involve in self-medication practice. Advice of person selling medicine at medical store
were having more affect on self medication. No reason for the use of drugs and un–affordability are also the determinants of increased self
medication.