Abstract

CODAS, Manuel et al. Self-medication in Itapúa: our reality. Rev. Nac. (Itauguá) [online]. 2015, vol.7, n.1, pp.32-36. ISSN 2072-8174.  https://doi.org/10.18004/rdn2015.0007.01.032-036.

Introduction: self-medication is a situation in which patients get and use drugs without any intervention by the physician. Objectives: to determine the prevalence of self-medication and conditions associated with it on people in the Department of Itapúa (Paraguay). Material and Methods : a prospective, descriptive study of trasverse court. A closed auto-completed in 9 districts in rural and urban areas of the Department of Itapúa survey was conducted. In addition to sociodemographic variables related health problems, we investigated reasons for not attending doctor and consequences. Results: of 2321 respondents, 57.1% were women, average age 30.85 ± 12.98 years, 81.6% came from urban areas, 41% had completed high school. 92.8% of the sample was self-medicated and has come to the pharmacy in 50%. 40.8% of the sample had advised to consume some drugs to their close relatives. Assessing permeability advertising methods, 50.8% said they have never used a drug based on them. Headache and flu-like symptoms were the cause of self-medication. Most patients who self-medicate (54.2%) has not seen a doctor for lack of time. 33.9% of the population is unaware of the effect that self-medication may have on the health of the community against 31.8% knowing the bad effect that would have on them. A higher level of education higher percentage of self-medication (p <0.05). Conclusion: self-medication is a common practice in our Department, coinciding with a series of similar investigations in Latin America. A significant relationship between educational attainment and the percentage of self-medication was found. It is a major public health problem and should optimize strategies in order to reduce it. We believe that this research could somehow reflect the reality of a country with a public health policy that still has shortcomings and that it asistencialmente insufficient.

Keywords : self-medication, public health, level of educational instruction.

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