Availability and Usage of Drugs at Household Level i Tanzania: Case Study in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam

Abstract

A survey was conducted in 400 households in Kinondoni District, Tanzania, to determine the availability, source, storage condition, and usage of medicinal drugs. Majority of the households (73.3 %) stored drugs at home. Seven hundred and sixty one (761) different types of drug preparations were encountered. Only 64.7 % of these drugs were in use at the time of study. About 45 % of the antibacterials found in the households were being kept for future use in self-medication. Large proportions of these drugs were obtained from authorised private health facilities. Only a minority (10 %) were obtained from unauthorised sources. Sixty seven percent of all the drugs kept at the households were not stored properly. Majority of the respondents (83 %) admitted practising self-medication. Sharing of drugs within and across households was also practised. Key Words: Household, storage condition, drug use status, self-medication. East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.5(3) 2002: 49-54