Self-medication: an important aspect of primary health care.
The main objective of this study was to determine the degree to which individuals practised self-medication in relation to their educational status. Kalutara, a small town in Sri-Lanka is semi-urban and has a good mixture of literates and illiterates. Important findings include the fact that knowledge of drugs was grossly inadequate, literates self-medicated far more than illiterates and a high percentage of the total sample population by-passed other health personnel in preference for Western trained doctors. Self-medication, though desirable, can be dangerous and should be emphasized as a component of primary health care because (i) it is commonly practised even where health professionals are easily accessible, (ii) it encourages self-reliance for curative, preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care and (iii) literacy, which seems to enhance its practice, is increasing worldwide.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D013188:Sri Lanka