title: Patterns in the use of medicines by university students in Maputo, Mozambique.
abstract: Patterns in the use of medicines are expected to reflect distinct health features between populations. This study aimed to describe the self-reported use of medication by a sample of university students in Maputo, Mozambique. We conducted a survey of 797 students in a private university in Maputo. Participants completed a questionnaire including socio-demographic data and pattern of medication use in the preceding month. Information was collected on the number and names of drugs, duration of use, and prescription. The drugs were grouped according to therapeutic indication. In the previous month, 56% of students had used at least one pharmaceutical drug, with higher prevalence for women (65.2% vs. 42.2%) and men attending health-related courses (67.4% vs. 53.2%). The most commonly used medicines were anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs (62.2%), anti-infectives (25.9%), and vitamins/minerals (13.6%). The most frequently used single drugs were paracetamol (42.8%), amoxicillin (12.6%), and ibuprofen (8.4%). Duration of use was lowest for anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs and highest for oral contraceptives. Use of medication by Mozambican students was similar to that observed in other university populations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Higiene e Epidemologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal. rlucas@med.up.pt
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lunet
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Júlio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langa
authors.forename: Marília
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muanantatha
authors.forename: Lucien-Pierre
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Nkunda
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009073:Mozambique; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014815:Vitamins