A cross sectional study on the prevalence of self-medication in a Chennai based population, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Background: Self -medication is a major public health problem in India because of the easy availability of drugs even without prescription to the lay population. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of self-medication use among the common population in the last three months and to identify certain suspected risk factors that might be associated with it.Methods:An analytical cross- sectional study was conducted on 180 participants chosen by simple random sampling from the rural and urban field practice areas of A. C. S. Medical College in Thiruvallur district. Data was collected through a questionnaire collecting background information of the person like age, address, income, to a series of questions on self-medication and alternative medicines. Data entry was done in SPSS and p values were based on chi- square values.Results: The overall prevalence of self-medication use in the last three months was found to be 51.7% with a 95% CI of 44.7-59. Self-medication use was 2.07 times more common among subjects aged above 35 years of age and this association was statistically significant (P Value = 0.016).  The commonest reason quoted for the practice of self – medication was financial constraints (40.80%) and the commonest ailment for which self- medication was practiced was quoted as common cold (73.02%).Conclusions:Study revealed a very high prevalence of self-medication emphasizing on the need for creating awareness on the ill-effects of the same.