Prevalence and Factors of Unprescribed Medicine Use Among the Residents of Kandahar city
Keywords: Prescription, Medicines, Antibiotics, Analgesics, Stomachache, Headache, Consultation Fee
Attaurrahman Arian
Abstract
Globally, and particularly in low-income countries such as Afghanistan, use of the over the counter (OTC) medications is significantly high. The World Health Organization defines self-medication as the condition in which an individual relies on themselves for diagnosis, prescription, or treatment. The study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional design, and data was collected from 401 participants through pre-established and verified information sources. The study findings show that 285 (71.1%) individuals used OTC medications in the past three months. Nearly half of the participants were unaware of the possible risks of self-medication. In this study, 69.8% of participants obtained their medications from pharmacies. The main reasons for self-medication were: 18.5% due to high doctor consultation fees. It also reveals that most participants used medications for illnesses, mostly for headache and stomach issues. The most frequently used medications were paracetamol and antibiotics. In addition, in the past three months, 35.2% of participants used OTC medications occasionally, 23.9% used them frequently, 12% used them once, and 28.9% never used any OTC medications. The study demonstrates that self-medication is widespread, with most participants obtaining medications from pharmacies. The primary reasons for self-medication are high doctor consultation fees and a lack of awareness regarding the potential risks of self-medication. It is recommended to implement awareness programs for the public, do not dispense the medicine to patient without prescription, and investigating for the root causes of headache and stomach problems to reduce the use of non-prescribed medications. This should be complemented with training of pharmacy staff on antimicrobial resistance.
