Household Storage of Medicines and Associated Factors in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND
The presence of medicines in households is a risk factor for irrational drug use. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence and factors associated with home storage of medicines in Tigray Region, Ethiopia.


METHODS
A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2013 in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. A total of 1034 participants were enrolled in the study. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to select households. Data were collected with the help of a pre-tested structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Of the total households visited, 293(29%) stored drugs. The mean number of drugs per household was 1.73. The most common classes of drugs found in households were analgesics 149(29%) and antibiotics 128(25%). Most of the medicines kept in households were used for ongoing treatments 316(62%) and available in tablet dosage form (70%). More than half of the medications kept at homes were not adequately labeled while drawer 180(36%) were reported as the main place of drug storage. The proportion of home storage of medicines in rural area (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39-0.81) was lower than that of urban area. However, households having family member(s) working in health facilities (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.09-3.77) were associated with an increased home storage of medicines.


CONCLUSIONS
Most drugs kept at home were not appropriately labeled and stored in a safe place. Residence area (rural versus urban) and the presence of health professional(s) in the households affects household drug storage. Hence, public education campaign should be considered as an intervention to improve the storage condition of medicines in the households.
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Abrham
A
Wondimu
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Fantahun
F
Molla
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Birhanu
B
Demeke
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Tadele
T
Eticha
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Admassu
A
Assen
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Solomon
S
Abrha
Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Wondim
W
Melkam
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population