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Cited by 50Antibiotic Use and ResistancePharmacy and Medical PracticesPharmaceutical Economics and Policy

Self-medication practices in urban and rural areas of western India: a cross sectional study

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Limaye, Dnyanesh, Limaye, Vaidehi, Fortwengel, Gerhard, Krause, Gerard·2018·International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health
DOI 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20182596
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Abstract

Background: Concerns about practice of self-medication (SM) world across are based on associated risks such as adverse reactions, disease masking, increased morbidity, wastage of resources and antibiotic resistance. SM is likely to differ between rural and urban areas of India. Systematically retrieved evidence on these differences are required in order to design targeted measures for improvement.Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study among the general population in urban (Matunga) and rural (Tala) areas of Maharashtra, India to explore SM practices and its associated factors. Face to face interviews were conducted using the validated study questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistical methods.Results: A total of 1523 inhabitants from 462 households were interviewed between [June/2015] and [August /2015], 778 (51%) of them in rural and 745 (49%) in urban areas. Overall self-medication prevalence was 29.1% (urban; 51.5%, rural; 7.7%, OR 12.7, CI 9.4-17.2) in the study participants. Participants having chronic disease (OR: 3.15, CI: 2.07-4.79) and from urban areas (OR:15.38, CI:8.49-27.85) were more likely to self-medicate. Self-medication practices were characterized by having old prescription (41.6%) as the main reason, fever (39.4%) as top indication and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents) as the most self-medicated category of drugs (40.7%).Conclusions: The present study documented that the prevalence of self-medication is associated with place of residence, and health status of the study participants. Self-medication is still a major issue in western Maharashtra, India and is majorly an urban phenomenon. Status of implementation of existing regulations should be reconsidered.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Limaye, D., Limaye, V., Fortwengel, G., & Krause, G.
Affiliations
Hochschule Hannover (DE)
ORCID
Venue
International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health
Publisher
Medip Academy
Published
2018-06-22
Volume
5
Issue
7
Pages
2672
ISSN
  • 2394-6032 (ISSN-L)
  • 2394-6040
DOI
10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20182596
OpenAlex
W2811309476
Cited by
50
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1
FWCI
2.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • SerWisS (Hochschule Hannover) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Bibliotheksservice-Zentrum Baden-Wuerttemberg (BSZ)
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
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
Keywords
self-medication, urban-rural differences, prevalence of self-medication, chronic disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, fever, antibiotic resistance, Maharashtra, Western India, drug regulation

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