Self-Medication Perception and Practice among Pregnant Women in Wa Municipality

Abstract

Background: There is increasing concern about self-medication during pregnancy in many low resource countries. Notwithstanding its adverse impact on pregnancy, in Wa municipality, pregnant women still engaged in the practice of self-medication. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception and practice of self-medication among pregnant women in Wa Municipality. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 health centers of Wa Municipality from May to June 2017. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods was used to select 367 pregnant women and the health facilities respectively. Basic descriptive statistics was performed and results presented in frequencies and percentages using tables. Simple Logistic regression and multiple logistics regression analysis were performed to determine if there was any association and strength of association between self-medication and the independents variables. Results: The prevalence rate of self-medication was (74.1%). The mean age is 28±4.9 years. Majority of the respondents (68.9%) were aged between 25-34 years. Most of the respondents have no formal education 45.5%, and 45.5% were Self-employed. The main factors associated with self-medication after multiple logistic regression were perceived illness as minor (COR=4.1 95% CI 2.49-6.69, p>0.001), easy accesses to non-prescribed medication (COR=10 95% CI 1.788-16.399, P<0.001) and traditional and cultural norms and beliefs (COR=4.9 95% CI 1.787-13.399, P=0.002). The main disease conditions for which self-medication was done were backache (33.1%), headaches (44.8%) and malaria (44%). Paracetamol (29%), tramadol (32.4%), coartem (16.2%) and herbal medicine (10.4%) were the drugs often used for self-medication. Conclusion: Self-medication is a public health problem that needs urgent attention with prevalence rate of 74%. Easy accesses to non-prescribed medication, perceived illness as minor and cultural norms and beliefs were the main associated factors that had great influence in the practice of self-medication among pregnant women in this study area. Easy accessibility of medicines in the open market by respondents was mainly due to the proliferations and availability of many chemical shops and pharmacy and poor regulations of non-prescribed medications by the Ghana pharmacy council and the community pharmacist. Perceived illness as minor and cultural beliefs and norms of respondents were largely influenced by low level of education of most of the respondents in this study. Backache, headaches, lower abdominal pains, waist pain and malaria, and paracetamol, tramadol, coartem and diclofenac were conditions and drugs often used for self-medication by respondents. These medicines mentioned above are well known by respondents and easy accessible in the open market and are less expensive and therefore respondents were able to afford. Also backache, waist pain, headaches, lower abdominal pain and malaria are the medical conditions most respondents perceived as minor and were mostly treated without seeing a medical practitioner. It is therefore very imperative to embark on educational campaigns and strict legislation measures relating to drugs dispensing from chemical shops and private pharmacies, ensuring constant supply of medications to the government hospital and facilitate access to health services are among the important intervention (s) that may change the behaviour of respondents and protect them from potential dangers of self-medication.