Self-medication and its associated factors among residents of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication and its associated factors among residents of Ado-Ekiti local government area of Ekiti State Nigeria. The study was a descriptive study involving one hundred residents of Ado- Ekiti local government area (49 females and 51 males) with age ranging between 18 and 69 years. A self-developed questionnaire containing eleven items to assess practice of self-medication was the instrument for data collection. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages using SPSS version 12. Majority of the respondents (70%) practised self-medication and this was common among the adults, females, those with primary education and those having low occupational status. Factors associated with the practice of self-medication include: High cost of medical bills (24%), time wastage at health facilities (16%) and having knowledge of what drugs to use when ill (30%). In addition, majority of the respondents opined that provision of adequate health facilities and health personnel can reduce the practice of self-medication. Therefore, government needs to make adequate provision for the health care of the people at affordable costs. Also health care providers should make health facilities homely for the people and public enlightenment against the practice of self-medication should be carried out.

Keywords: Self-medication, over-the counter drugs, health, prevalence.