Self-medication practices in Khartoum State, Sudan.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-medication with proprietary medicines and herbs in Khartoum State, Sudan, and to evaluate factors associated with self-medication.


METHODS
A pre-piloted questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 1,200 individuals, selected from all three cities of Khartoum State using a multistage stratified clustered sampling.


RESULTS
The response rate was 83.3%. Medicines, including herbs, were used by 81.8% of the respondents without a medical consultation within 2 months prior to the study period. Proprietary medicines alone were used by 28.3% (CI: 25.6-31.2), herbs alone by 20.7% (CI: 18.3-23.4), while 32.8% (CI: 29.9-35.8) had used both. Self-medication with proprietary medicines was least common with the middle-aged (OR: 0.12; 0.09-0.17), the elderly (OR: 0.29; 0.20-0.42) and low level of education [illiterate (OR: 0.26, 0.18-0.37) and primary/intermediate school (OR: 0.07, 0.04-0.11)]. It was most associated with low (OR: 5.3; 3.8-7.4) and middle income (OR: 4.3; 3.1-5.9), but no gender difference was found (P>0.05). Self-medication behaviour with herbs was most associated with middle-age (OR: 1.7; 1.3-2.2), female gender (OR: 2.2 (1.7-2.8) and lowest income earners (OR: 2.5; 1.9-3.5).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of self-medication with medicines including herbs in urban areas of Khartoum State is high. Self-medication behaviour varies significantly with a number of socio-economic characteristics. Our findings have major public health policy implications for countries like Sudan.
Awad
Abdelmoneim Ismail
AI
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat. amoneim@hsc.edu.kw
Eltayeb
Idris Babiker
IB
Capps
Phillip A
PA
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013397:Sudan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population