title: Self medication for oral health problems in Cameroon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the use of self medication in oral health problems in Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multi-regional cross-sectional survey was conducted in three towns; Bamenda, Yaounde and Buea over a 10 month period. The questionnaire elicited information on demography, oral problem for self medication, substance used for self medication, source of the substance, duration of self medication, reason for self medication, source of advice of the drugs or those products used, opinion about the substance, effect and duration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of self medication for oral health problems was 67.8% which was significantly associated with age, marital status and location. The most frequently self medicated oral health problem was toothache (54.7%). The majority (64.5%) of the respondents used pharmaceutical products while a minority (7.7%) used dangerous substances such as petrol and vinegar for self medication. Sources of substances of self medication included pharmacy (55.6%), road side vendors (26.1%), native healers (7.8%), mobile drug vendors in buses (5.3%), and others (5.3%). The choice of substances used for self medication was mostly guided by the advice from relatives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the respondents self-medicated for oral health problems. Unmarried, urban residents, aged 21-30 years reported significantly increased self-medication for oral health problems. Evidently dangerous substances were utilised for self-medication in this study, necessitating awareness and other forms of intervention.
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, Nkwen Baptist Health Centre, Bamenda, Cameroon Department of Periodontics, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Agbor
authors.forename: Clement C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Azodo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002163:Cameroon; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014098:Toothache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations