Abstract

RAMOS, Pasionaria; TULLO, Edgar; CANESE, Jorge  and  SORIA REY, Nélida. Characteristics of self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paraguay (2020 - 2021). Rev. salud publica Parag. [online]. 2023, vol.13, n.1, pp.46-51. ISSN 2307-3349.  https://doi.org/10.18004/rspp.2023.abril.07.

Self-medication is a practice commonly carried out to prevent or cure some diseases, which was increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are two forms of self-medication: one in which the patient uses appropriate medications for the condition, and one in which the patient self-prescribes and uses medication without a prescription or adequate medical care. This paper describes the characteristics of COVID-19 patients who self-medicated during the pandemic in Paraguay in the years 2020 and 2021. Of the 14,233 people sick with COVID-19, 79.18% (11,269) reported to have self-medicated. During the two years of this analysis, the average age of those who reported having had COVID 19 during the last 90 days and who self-medicated was under 50 years of age. 54.92% (7,817) resided in the Central Department and 82.59% (11,755) in urban areas. Regarding health coverage, 73.55% (10,469) did not have any current health insurance in the country. It can be said that there was a high percentage of people who self-medicated during the pandemic and that this was not related to health coverage nor the people’s place of residence.

Keywords : Self-medication; COVID - 19; Universal Health Coverage.

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