Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Clinical Pharmacology

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1574-8847
ISSN (Online): 2212-3938

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Systematic Review Article

Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Medication Practices in India: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Author(s): Muhammed Rashid, Manik Chhabra*, Ananth Kashyap, Krishna Undela and Sai K. Gudi

Volume 15, Issue 2, 2020

Page: [90 - 101] Pages: 12

DOI: 10.2174/1574884714666191122103953

Abstract

Background: Self-Medication (SM) is a practice of using medications to treat selfdiagnosed symptoms without a legitimate prescription by a health care professional. Alongside posing a burden on a patient, SM practices are associated with certain unfavourable health conditions such as drug-resistance, adverse effects, drug-interactions, including death.

Objective: To systematically review and quantify the prevalence of SM practices and its associated factors in India.

Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was performed using scientific databases such as PubMed and Cochrane library for the peer-reviewed research articles that were conducted in India without any language and date restrictions. Studies which were cross-sectional by design and assessing the prevalence and predictors of SM practices in India were considered for the review, and all the relevant articles were screened for their eligibility.

Results: Of 248 articles, a total of 17 articles comprising of 10,248 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the mean prevalence of SM practices in India was observed to be 53.57%. Familiarity with the medication appears to be a major reason to practice SM (PR: 30.45; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 17.08-43.82; 6 studies), and the practice was noticed more among individuals from a middle-lower class family with a prevalence rate of 26.31 (95%CI: 2.02-50.60; P<0.0001). Minor ailments were the primary reason for practicing SM (PR: 42.46; 95%CI: 21.87- 63.06), among which headache was the most commonly reported (PR: 41.53; 95%CI: 18.05-65.02).

Conclusion: Self-medication practices are quite frequent in India. While NSAIDs and anti-allergens are the most frequently utilized self-medicated drugs used for headache and cold and cough.

Keywords: Self-medication, over-the-counter medication, heterogeneity, prevalence, predictors, anti-allergens.

« Previous Next »
Graphical Abstract

[1]
Goyal A, Gaur A, Chhabra M, Deepak K. Knowledge, attitude and practices of Over The Counter (OTC) medicines among rural population-A cross sectional study. Asian. J Pharm Pharmacol 2018; 4(2): 227-31.
[2]
Panda A, Pradhan S, Mohapatro G, Kshatri JS. Predictors of over the-counter medication: A cross-sectional Indian study. Perspect Clin Res 2017; 8(2): 79-84.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.203043] [PMID: 28447018]
[3]
Van der Geest S, Hardon A. Self-medication in developing countries. J Soc Adm Pharm 1990; 7(4): 199-204.
[4]
Ahmad A, Patel I, Mohanta G, Balkrishnan R. Evaluation of self-medication practices in rural area of town sahaswan at northern India. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2014; 4(8)(Suppl. 2): S73-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2141-9248.138012] [PMID: 25184092]
[5]
Limaye D, Limaye V, Krause G, Fortwengel G. A systematic review of the literature to assess self-medication practices. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2017.
[6]
Nepal G, Bhatta S. Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Southeast Asian Region: A systematic review. Cureus 2018; 10(4)e2428
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.2428] [PMID: 29876150]
[7]
Badiger S, Kundapur R, Jain A, et al. Self-medication patterns among medical students in South India. Australas Med J 2012; 5(4): 217-20.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4066/AMJ.2012.1007] [PMID: 22848313]
[8]
Lal V, Goswami A, Anand K. Self-medication among residents of urban resettlement colony, New Delhi. Indian J Public Health 2007; 51(4): 249-51.
[PMID: 18232170]
[9]
Law Relating to Drugs and Cosmetics: Containing Drugs Cosmetics Act, 1940, Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 Along with Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP-2012), Pharmacy Act, 1948, Poisons Act, 1919, Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Other Allied Acts, Rules Etc. with Information on Herbal Formulations, Cosmetics and Extracts, Etc: Eastern book company. 2014.
[10]
Sisay M, Mengistu G, Edessa D. Epidemiology of self-medication in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2018; 19(1): 56.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40360-018-0248-8] [PMID: 30201045]
[11]
Kumar A, Vandana ANA, Aslami AN. Analgesics self-medication and its association with sleep quality among medical undergraduates. J Clin Diagn Res 2016; 10(12): FC07-11.
[PMID: 28208872]
[12]
Kumar R, Goyal A, Padhy BM, Gupta YK. Self-medication practice and factors influencing it among medical and paramedical students in India: A two-period comparative cross-sectional study. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2016; 7(2): 143-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.184700] [PMID: 27433064]
[13]
Simon AK, Rao A, Rajesh G, Shenoy R, Pai MB. Trends in self-medication for dental conditions among patients attending oral health outreach programs in coastal Karnataka, India. Indian J Pharmacol 2015; 47(5): 524-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.165195] [PMID: 26600642]
[14]
Jain A, Bhaskar DJ, Gupta D, Agali C, Yadav P, Khurana R. Practice of self-medication for dental problems in Uttar Pradesh, India. Oral Health Prev Dent 2016; 14(1): 5-11.
[PMID: 26525125]
[15]
Kasulkar AA, Gupta M. Self-medication practices among medical students of a private institute. Indian J Pharm Sci 2015; 77(2): 178-82.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0250-474X.156569] [PMID: 26009650]
[16]
Bhambhani G, Saxena V, Bhambal A, Saxena S, Pandya P, Kothari S. Self-medication practice amongst patients visiting a tertiary-care dental hospital in Central India. Oral Health Prev Dent 2015; 13(5): 411-6.
[PMID: 25789355]
[17]
Nivedita K, Shanthini F. Is it safe to provide abortion pills over the counter? A study on outcome following self-medication with abortion pills. J Clin Diagn Res 2015; 9(1): QC01-4.
[PMID: 25738038]
[18]
Patil SBSHV. B v P, Santoshkumar J, Binjawadgi AS, Ka-naki AR. Self-medication practice and perceptions among undergraduate medical students: A cross-sectional study. J Clin Diagn Res 2014; 8(12): HC20-3.
[PMID: 25653969]
[19]
Selvaraj K, Kumar SG, Ramalingam A. Prevalence of self medication practices and its associated factors in Urban Puducherry, India. Perspect Clin Res 2014; 5(1): 32-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.124569] [PMID: 24551585]
[20]
Kumar N, Kanchan T, Unnikrishnan B, et al. Perceptions and practices of self-medication among medical students in coastal South India. PLoS One 2013; 8(8)e72247
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0072247] [PMID: 24015223]
[21]
Banerjee I, Bhadury T. Self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, West Bengal. J Postgrad Med 2012; 58(2): 127-31.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0022-3859.97175] [PMID: 22718057]
[22]
Tibdewal S, Gupta M. Mother’s use of medication in their children of preschool age. Indian J Public Health 2005; 49(1): 27-9.
[PMID: 15989158]
[23]
Saradamma RD, Higginbotham N, Nichter M. Social factors influencing the acquisition of antibiotics without prescription in Kerala State, south India. Soc Sci Med 2000; 50(6): 891-903.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00380-9] [PMID: 10695985]
[24]
Alhomoud F, Aljamea Z, Almahasnah R, Alkhalifah K, Basalelah L, Alhomoud FK. Self-medication and self-prescription with antibiotics in the Middle East-do they really happen? A systematic review of the prevalence, possible reasons, and outcomes. Int J Infect Dis 2017; 57: 3-12.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2017.01.014] [PMID: 28111172]
[25]
Smith F. The quality of private pharmacy services in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Pharm World Sci 2009; 31(3): 351-61.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11096-009-9294-z] [PMID: 19343530]
[26]
Grigoryan L, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM, Burgerhof JG, et al. Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Europe. Emerg Infect Dis 2006; 12(3): 452-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1203.050992] [PMID: 16704784]
[27]
Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Curr Drug Saf 2010; 5(4): 315-23.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488610792245966] [PMID: 20615179]
[28]
Balbuena FR, Aranda AB, Figueras A. Self-medication in older urban mexicans: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Drugs Aging 2009; 26(1): 51-60.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/0002512-200926010-00004] [PMID: 19102514]
[29]
Jain S. Concept of self-medication: A review. Int J Pharm Biol Arch 2011; 2(3): 831-6.
[30]
Mudur G. Abuse of OTC drugs rising in South Asia. BMJ 1999; 318(7183): 556.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7183.556b] [PMID: 10037623]
[31]
Knapp DA, Knapp DE, Engel JF. The public, the pharmacist and self-medication. J Am Pharm Assoc 1966; 6(9): 460-2.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-0465(15)31641-4] [PMID: 5943501]
[32]
Sengupta A, Nundy S. The private health sector in India. B Med J 2005; 331: 1157.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7526.1157]
[33]
Organization WH. Antimicrobial resistance: Global report on surveillance. World Health Organization 2014.

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
Article Metrics
15
1
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy