Self-medication among patients attending Kampala International University Teaching Hospital Out Patient Department, Ishaka-Bushenyi District, Western Uganda

Abstract

Self-medication use has led society to antibiotic resistance—a serious health problem worldwide. AIM: This study aimed to assess prevalence, factors, common drugs used to treat the common symptoms and sources of the drugs used in self-medication by patients attending Kampala International University Teaching Hospital in Ishaka, Bushenyi district in Western Uganda. STUDY DESIGN: The cross-sectional descriptive study method was processed using questionnaires in different out-patient clinics at KIUTH. In total, 118 patients completed the questionnaire and were included in the study.RESULTS; More than half of the respondents 98/118 (83.3%) had used drugs (Over the Counter drugs) to treat self-diagnosed illnesses. Almost half of therespondents used antibiotics and analgesics either against viral (commonly cold)or mixed (bacterial and viral) infections. The respondents with lower educational qualifications (29.7%) and those from rural areas (32%) were significantly less involved in the self-medication practice,however respondents with high education (70.3%) and those from urban areas (58%) as around Ishaka town were more involved with the use “Over the Counter drugs”. There was significant difference between genders, different age groups, or different parenthood status as shown in Table 1.Preferred drugs were Paracetamol (37%), followed by Amoxicillin (36%) in penicillin class, used to treat respiratory and abdominal symptoms. Respondents carried out self-medication because they considered their symptoms minor in (39%) as (17%)wanted to reduce costs required to seek treatment in a hospital setting, and sources of drugs were majorly pharmacies in (31.6%) of the respondents.CONCLUSION: Rate of self-medication incidence among the patients in Ishaka, has been shown to be high and is a major public health problem as it is associated increased emergency antimicrobial resistance and adverse side effects. RECOMMENDATION: Increase PUBLIC awareness about the dangers of self-medication through community out-reaches by concern organizations as Uganda national drug authority.