DRUGS STORED AT HOME FOR SELF-CARE AMONG ADULTS IN IBADAN SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR DRUG USE EDUCATION

Abstract

Self - care is a set of actions taken by an individual to promote or protect his/her health or to aid recovery when ill. These actions often involve the use of drugs which are either unprescribed or leftovers from the ones earlier prescribed. However, the types of drugs commonly stored at home as well as factors that promote this phenomenon arc unclear. The study aimed at determining the different types of drugs stored at home, factors influencing practice and the perceptions of dangers associated with this practice among male and female adults in Ibadan South - West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross sectional survey. A multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of the respondents from randomly selected households. Data was collected using a pretested semi structured questionnaire and an observational checklist on a sample of 408 respondents. Result showed that a higher proportion of the respondents were female 275 (67.4%), married 268 (66.7%) and 71 (18.6%) had post primary education with a mean age of 35.I years (SD ± 13 .52). A variety of drugs were stored at home by respondents for self - care. They include Septrin (23.0%), Flagyl (15.1%), Vitamin B-complex (9.0%), Paracetamol (8.6%) and Novalgin (6.5%). Most the drags were purchased from Chemists 230 (65.9%), followed by Patent Medicine Shop 166 (46.4%), Government hospitals 63 (20.1%), Private hospitals 51 (15.2%) and itinerant drug peddlers 47 (14.0%). Major health problems for which these drugs were used include headache 186 (67.6%). fever 180 (62.5%). pains 167 (57.0%) and stomachache 55 (27.9%). Most of these drugs were reportedly used without medical supervision or the doctor’s prescription. The major factors found to promote drug storage at home were convenience 296 (86.3%), time 73 (29.3%), distance 65 (24.9%) and cost 41(15.8%). Furthermore, 308 (75.5%) of the respondents agreed that it is always good to keep to keep drugs at home, citing reasons such as emergency situations (33.9%), convenience (26.0%) and prevention of illness (11.5%). However, drug storage practice were not influenced by age (p = 0.476), education (p = 0.164) and sex (p = 0.117). Furthermore, twelve (3.1%) and 9(2.3%) of the respondents respectively agreed that all drugs that change in colour and which had expired should be used and not discarded, whole 68 (17.3%) and 42 (10.3%) of the respondents were undecided. In conclusion, the study had shown that many adults store various types of drugs at home and used them for various ailments without medical supervision or doctors’ prescription. Furthermore, positive attitudinal disposition towards drug storage at home was recorded Education of the public on the dangers inherent in storing and using unprescribed drugs at home is strongly recommended.