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Cited by 30Antibiotic Use and ResistancePharmacy and Medical PracticesPharmaceutical Quality and Counterfeiting

Prevalence of self-medication in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Opoku, Richmond, Dwumfour-Asare, Bismark, Agrey-Bluwey, Lawrencia, Appiah, Nana Esi, Ackah, Michael, Acquah, Francis, Asenso, Priscilla Fordjour, Issaka, Abdul-Aziz·2023·BMJ Open
DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064627PMC PMC10439347
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Abstract

Objectives: This study estimates the prevalence of self-medication and provides an understanding of the reasons for self-medication in Ghana through the synthesis of relevant literature. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Science Direct and African Journals Online to identify observational studies published from inception to March 2022. Google scholar and institutional websites were searched for grey literature. We included studies reporting primary data on the prevalence and/or reasons for self-medication in Ghana. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of self-medication. Subgroup analysis was performed with the study population (pregnant women, patients and students), geopolitical zone (coastal, middle and northern) and study setting (rural and urban). Using inductive thematic analysis, reasons for self-medication were classified and tallied under key themes. Results: Thirty studies involving 9271 participants were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of self-medication in Ghana was 53.7% (95% CI 46.2% to 61.0%; I²=98.51%, p<0.001). Prevalence of self-medication was highest among pregnant women (65.5%; 95% CI 58.1% to 72.5%; I 2 =88%), in the middle belt of the country (62.1%; 95% CI 40.9% to 82.0%; I²=98%; p<0.001) and in rural settings (61.2%; 95% CI 36.5% to 84.5%; I²=98%; p<0.001). The most cited reasons for self-medication included long waiting time at health facilities (73.3%), previous use of drugs (66.7%) and the perceived unseriousness of diseases (53.3%). Conclusion: This study has revealed that self-medication is still an unresolved public health challenge in Ghana, with a high prevalence estimate. Self-medication is influenced by inconveniences associated with accessing healthcare coupled with poor health seeking behaviours. There is the need for improved access to quality healthcare and the promotion of appropriate health-seeking behaviours.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Opoku, R., Dwumfour-Asare, B., Agrey-Bluwey, L., Appiah, N. E., Ackah, M., Acquah, F., Asenso, P. F., & Issaka, A.-A.
Affiliations
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Department of Environmental Health & Sanitation Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong, Ashanti, Ghana
  • Department of Health Administration & Education, University of Education Winneba Faculty of Science Education, Winneba, Central, Ghana
  • University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (GH)
  • University of Education, Winneba (GH)
Corresponding author
Opoku, Richmond
ORCID
Venue
BMJ Open
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2023-03
Volume
13
Issue
3
Pages
e064627
ISSN
2044-6055 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064627
PMC
PMC10439347
OpenAlex
W4360843898
Cited by
30
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 1
FWCI
0.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMJ Open (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacy and Medical Practices
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pharmaceutical Quality and Counterfeiting
Keywords
self-medication, prevalence, Ghana, reasons for self-medication, health-seeking behavior, health care access, long waiting times, pregnant women, students, urban-rural differences, geopolitical zones
MeSH terms
Female, Ghana, Humans, Pregnancy, Rural Population, Self Medication, Health Behavior, Prevalence

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