title: Predictors of medication use in the Roma population in Spain: a population-based national study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of prescribed and self-medicated use of medication in the Spanish Roma population, and identify the associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the first National Health Survey conducted on the Roma population in Spain were used. The sample comprised 1000 Spanish Roma adults of both sexes aged ≥16 years. Answers (yes/no) to the question, 'In the last two weeks have you taken the following medicines [in reference to a list of medicines that might be used by the population] and were they prescribed for you by a doctor?' were used to ascertain 'medication use'. 'Self-medication' referred to use of these medicines without medical prescription. Using multivariate logistic regression models, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to identify associated factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of medication use in the Roma population for both sexes was 69.1%, and 38.7% was self-medicated. Females reported higher use of medication than males (75.1% vs 62.3%); however, self-medication was higher among males. Analgesics and antipyretics were used most often (35.8%). Among males, the variables that were independently and significantly associated with a higher probability of medication use were: age; negative perception of health; presence of chronic disease (OR 2.81; 95% CI 1.67-4.73); and medical visits (OR 4.51; 95% CI 2.54-8.01). The variables were the same among females, except for age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high percentage of the Spanish Roma population use medication, and a significant proportion of them self-medicate. The presence of chronic diseases, a negative perception of health and medical consultations were associated with increased use of medication in the study population.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: mariadelmar.martin@urjc.es.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Martín-Pérez
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Hernández Barrera
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: López de Andrés
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Jiménez-Trujillo
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Jiménez-García
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Carrasco-Garrido
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Health survey; Medication use; Predictors; Roma population; Self-medication