Self-medication practice among residents of Madhyapur Thimi-4, Bhaktapur, Nepal

Background: Self-medication is the treatment of self-diagnosed symptoms or conditions with medicines taken on own initiative without professional supervision .Though self-medication reduces the burden to the health care facilities, save time etc. it increases the risk if utilized inappropriately.

Objectives: This study was done with the aim to determine self-medication practices among residents of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality ward number 4, Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was used and non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted. Study was conducted in Madhyapur Thimi-4 in Bhaktapur district with sample size of total 309 community people of age 20 to 60 years. Data was collected by interview with the help of semi structured questionnaire and was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Out of 309 participants, 215(69.6%) community people practiced self-medication with one’s past experience 88(40.7%) as the most common source of information. Most commonly used medicine was NSAID 63(29.3%) followed by decongestant 30(13.9%). Medicines were self-prescribed for headache 49 (22.7%), fever 37(17.2%), cold and flu 30(13.9%) with the aim to save the time and for quick relief 50(23.6%). Practice of self-medication was statistically significant with age of respondents (p=0.000), level of education (p=0.004) and type of family (p=0.009).

Conclusion: The practice of self-medication was common for different illness like headache, fever, diarrhea etc and most commonly self medicated medicine was NSAID.