Original Articles
Self-medication practices and misuse of medicine among mothers of young children attending a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka
Authors:
Bhagya Piumali de Silva ,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Bhagya
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Fathima Hasna Hussain,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Fathima
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Gayathri Ginige,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Gayathri
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Amani Kulathunge,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Amani
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Hasni Kannangara,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Hasni
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Sampatha Goonawardane,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Sampatha
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Manori Gamage
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, LK
About Manori
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Background: Self-medication and misuse of medicines is a growing trend in current society.
Objectives: To assess the self-medication practices, misuse of selected oral allopathic medication and associated factors among mothers of children under 12 years attending the outpatient department (OPD) of Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH).
Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among mothers of children under 12 years of age who attended the OPD of CSTH from March to April 2014 on self-medication of selected oral medicines in the preceding six months. Data was collected by a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire and was analysed using SPSS 15.0.
Results: Eighty five percent of the 350 study participants were between 25-44 years with a mean age of 33.1±6.7 years. Eighty seven percent of them were Sinhalese, 74% were only educated up to the ordinary level (O/L) and 64% were housewives. There were 54% female children and 51% were between 1-4 years of age. Ninety five percent participants self-medicated their children. There was a statistically significant association between mother’s higher education level (p<0.05), unemployed mothers (p<0.01), father’s higher education level (p<0.01), father’s higher occupational category (p<0.05), increased age of child (p<0.01) and high parity (p<0.05) with self-medication. Paracetamol was the drug used for self-medication by 92% whilst 8% used salbutamol, amoxicillin and chlorpheniramine. Significant association with misuse of paracetamol was observed among housewives (p<0.01), low educational level of participants and spouse (p <0.05), skilled occupations (p<0.05), older age of child (p<0.001) and having nuclear families (p<0.05). Chlorpheniramine overuse was significantly associated with female child and nuclear family type (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Ninety five percent of mothers attending the OPD in CSTH during the study period self-medicated their children. There were statistically significant associations between higher educational level of mothers, unemployed mothers, increasing age of child and increasing number of children with the tendency to self-medicate the child.
(Key words: Self-medication, misuse of oral allopathic medication, children under 12 years)
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2017; 46(2): 122-127
How to Cite:
de Silva, B.P., Hussain, F.H., Ginige, G., Kulathunge, A., Kannangara, H., Goonawardane, S. and Gamage, M., 2017. Self-medication practices and misuse of medicine among mothers of young children attending a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 46(2), pp.122–127. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v46i2.8267
Published on
05 Jun 2017.
Peer Reviewed
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