The use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs in infants in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This study is aimed at determining the prevalence in Nigeria of parental use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs to their infants, to identify the drugs involved and the determinants that promote the act amongst Nigerian mothers. A total of 736 mothers, selected from 20 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres during the immunization of their infants, were randomly selected and interviewed with a structured questionnaire filled by trained personnel and the researchers. 336 (45.65%) infants suffered one ailment or the other in the last one month their mothers were interviewed. One hundred and seventy six (52.38%) of these mothers sought medical intervention in the hospital for their infants' ailment. Antibiotics 343 (22.46%), vitamin supplements 259 (16.96%) and analgesics 152 (9.95%) were the most common group of non-prescribed drugs used by the infants. Ascorbic acid 472 (64.13%) and paracetamol 440 (59.78%) were the most commonly kept drugs at home by the mothers. There is a need for health education talk, particularly to discourage mothers from self-medication and to encourage them in seeking hospital based-care during their infants' ailments. Government should review the policies on public sales qf prescribed drugs as non-prescribed drugs so as to ensure rational sale and use in infants.