Knowledge, Attitude & Practice of Self-Medication with Painkillers among Young Adults, Bangladesh
- Author:
Sarker Rumpa
1
Author Information
1. Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Collective Name:M Sabrina Moonajilin
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Self-medication;
pain killers;
young
- From:International Journal of Public Health Research
2020;10(1):1174-1182
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Self-medication, the unsolicited use of prescription and over the counter
(OTC) drugs, is practised all over the world, particularly in countries like
Bangladesh. So, this study is focused on the prevalence and attitude and
knowledge about various aspects of self-medication with painkillers among
students of the selected residential university of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Methods It is a cross-sectional interview-based study. The study population was the
students of the university who lives in attached residential halls. The total
number of respondents was 209.
Results Every respondent both male (105) and female (104) have reported that they
had practiced self-medication with painkillers for their both acute and chronic
pain like headache, menstrual cramp, back/muscle/joint pain etc. Drugs
commonly used by the students were Napa (19.6%), Paracetamol (12.9%),
Etorix (6.2%), ACE (10.0%) HPR ds (10.0%), Rolac (9.6%) etc. Many of the
drugs were non-OTC drugs. The main sources of information were advised
by the manager of the pharmacy (36.8%), self-decision (16.7%), media
(12.0%) and advice from friends/relatives (23.0%). The prime factors that
influenced students to try self -medicated painkillers were dissatisfaction
toward the medical centre in the area (23.9%), cost-effectiveness (20.6%),
unavailability of medical facilities (11.5%) etc. 64 of the respondents (both
M & F) reported that they have no clear idea about the possible side effects
of the chronic use of painkillers. Dependency on a painkiller for pain
management was (M=32 and F=48).
Conclusions 41% of students taking a self-medicated painkiller with analgesics in an
emergency perceive it as safe.
- Full text:21.2020my0235.pdf
