Abstract

Dr. Sachin V. Desai*, Dr. M. G. Keshannavar, Manne Rohith Reddy, Yogesh Hiremath, Juna Mary George, A. Surya Teja Reddy

ABSTRACT

Background: Self-medication is widely used by young adults. Self-medication is more of a risk than remedy. It is a potential contributor to pathogen resistance to antibiotics. Self-medication is an emerging threat to Indian healthcare system. Objectives: To analyze (1) The reasons and source for self-medication practice. (2) Diseases for which self-medication is commonly used. (3) Knowledge, Attitude and practice towards self-medication practices. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was carried out to analyze the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding self-medication among rural and urban field practice areas of Department of Community Medicine, SN Medial College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India among230 adults in 18-59yrs age group, 115 each, from rural and urban areas. Results: 60 % of urban and 75% of rural participants’ major source of information was pharmacist. In urban majority preferred self-medication as their immediate response when they fell sick and rural sample population preferred consulting a pharmacist. Self-medication is always the first line of treatment for (62%). Modern medicine was the most preferred treatment modality in urban (86%) and rural (96%) respectively. 59% of urban population opted for self-medication,1-2 days after they fell sick; whereas immediately, in rural population. Majority of urban (82.6%) and rural (71.3%) participants took self-medication for 1 – 2 days. Conclusion: The primary factor which influenced the choice of self-medication is quick relief, practiced more in rural population due to inadequate health care services in rural area. Government should provide proper instructions to the pharmacist to supply drugs only on prescription.