The use of non-prescribed medication in the first 3 months of life in rural South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the use of non-prescribed medications given to a cohort of infants in the first 3 months of life in a rural South African district, and discusses some of the implications for primary health care.


METHODS
As part of an ongoing study on breastfeeding, a cohort of 110 infants were visited at home at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Any medications given to the infant since the last visit, the reasons for their administration, and any visits made to traditional healers were recorded via a semi-structured questionnaire. Determinants of administration of non-prescribed medication were analysed, including maternal age, education, infant gender and socio-economic factors.


RESULTS
A total of 107 (97%) infants received non-prescribed medications in the first 3 months of life: 98 (89%) rectally and 64 (58%) orally. The most common enema contained traditional Zulu medicine made from herbs, given more than once weekly, usually for perceived constipation; the most common oral medication was gripe water, given once daily, mainly for 'colic' or 'wind'. Twenty-nine (26%) mothers had consulted a traditional healer, most commonly because of concerns about a capillary naevus, thought to cause pain. Mothers with a 'clean' water supply were more likely to give non-prescribed oral medications than those without (OR=2.7 and P=0.0223), whilst those who had no education were less likely to administer them than those who had completed school (OR=0.19 and P=0.0326).


CONCLUSIONS
Non-prescribed medications are given almost universally to young infants in our area, irrespective of socio-economic class. Health professionals need to be aware of the extent of, and reasons for, administration of non-prescribed medications to young infants, so that effective health messages can be targeted at mothers and caregivers.
Bland
Ruth M
RM
Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, Mtubatuba, kwaZulu Natal, South Africa. blandr@mrc.ac.za
Rollins
Nigel C
NC
Van den Broeck
Jan
J
Coovadia
Hoosen M
HM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004733:Enema; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012423:Rural Health; D013019:South Africa; D014881:Water Supply
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs