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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without
Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health Problem
1*
Nandakumar Ganesan,
Department of Public Health, Supreme
Council of Health Doha, Qatar
Email: nkumar@sch.gov.qa,
nanda_genetics@yahoo.co.uk
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Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
who may gets under dose himself by
Thus, this study will provide an important
exposing his microbes to non lethal action
of
more
Alexander
drugs
which
resistance.1
makes
According
them
to
developing
regarding
the
more
antibiotics
and
than
100
millions
outpatient
policies
and
regulations
indiscriminate
other
use
of
medications
in
Chennai.
The prevalence of self-medication with
antibiotics was high in Chennai because,
this is the fact that not only Chennai, all
over India most of the drugs easily
kill
their
produced
microorganisms
infections.4
to
help
or
inhibit
combat
Self-medication
bacterial
can
be
METHODS
using
simple
random
sampling
131
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
letter of explanation, structured, validated
groups. Student-t test was used to ascertain
questionnaire were distributed to the
RESULTS
Antibiotics
Common
starts.
and
The
statistical
analysis
was
were
statistical
statistically
software.
Frequency
with
College/University
significant
education
between
self-
categorical
variables and
mean with
differences
in
proportions
of
Ciprofloxacin,
Azithromycin
and
132
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
studied male subjects as compared to
bactericidal action. Inappropriate use of
females (5.7%Vs1.7); 23.1%Vs16.5%) and
the treatment.6
addition,
prevalence
of erythromycin,
obtaining
common
and
antibiotics
and
of
obtaining
common
medical
the
from
females
antibiotics
in
and
Doctor/
terms
dentist
while
more
cases
took
without
purchased
DISCUSSION
antibiotics
medical
without
133
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
Table 1. Socio-demographics characteristics of the studied population according to the SelfMedication and Non-Self Medication (N=781)
Variable
Age (MeanSD)
Age Group
18-25 Years
26-34 Years
35-44 Years
45-54 Years
>55 Years
Sex
Male
Female
Education Level
Illiterate
Primary
Secondary
Diploma
College/university
Occupation
Not working
College student
Private officer
Govt officer
Business
Income/month*INR
<5000
5000-14,999
15000-19,999
>20000
Total N=781
n(%
Self-Medication
N=308 n(%)
Non-Self Medication
N=473 n(%)
P-Value
32.89.5
27.19.3
36.47.7
<0.001
242(31.0)
206(26.4)
204(26.1)
68(8.7)
61(7.8)
105(34.1)
84(27.3)
83(26.9)
21(6.8)
15(4.9)
137(29.0)
122(25.8)
121(25.6)
47(9.9)
46(9.7)
0.048
424(54.3)
357(45.7)
271(88.0)
37(12.0)
153(32.3)
320(67.7)
62(7.9)
220(28.2)
81(10.4)
191(24.5)
22(7.1)
89(28.9)
38(12.3)
71(23.1)
88(28.6)
40(8.5)
131(27.7)
43(9.1)
120(25.4)
229(29.0)
0.583
263(33.7)
138(17.7)
221(28.3)
101(12.9)
58(7.4)
103(33.4)
42(13.6)
92(29.9)
45(14.6)
26(8.4)
160(33.8)
96(20.3)
129(27.3)
56(11.80)
32(6.8)
0.139
131(16.8)
294(37.6)
208(26.6)
148(19.0)
50(16.2)
132(42.9)
90(29.2)
36(11.7)
81(17.1)
162(34.2)
118(24.9)
112(23.2)
<0.001
<0.001
*INR=Indian Rupees
Table 2. Prevalence of Self-Medication with antibiotics according to gender wise (N=781)
Antibiotics*
Amoxicillin
Augmentin
Ciprofloxacin
Doxycyline
Erythromycin
Azithromycin
Norfloxacin
Cefuroxime
Cefixime
P-Value
0.001
0.019
0.004
0.028
<0.001
0.022
0.045
0.002
0.224
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Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
* Multivariable dont add to100%
Table 3. Source of Obtaining Antibiotics and Common Symptoms for which antibiotics
were self Medicated (N=781)
Variable
Male N=424
Female N=357
P-Value
n(%)
n(%)
Source of Antibiotics
Prescription
Prescription from
Doctor/Physician
Prescription from Dentist
From Community Pharmacy
Friends
Common Symptoms
Coughs and sore throat
Cold and fever
Ear Infections
Flu conditions
Toothache
107(25.2)
75(21.0)
86(20.3)
190(44.8)
41(9.7)
38(10.6)
181(50.7)
63(17.6)
<0.001
51(12.0)
202(47.6)
52(12.3)
68(16.0)
51(12.0)
29(8.1)
131(36.7)
48(13.4)
71(19.9)
78(21.8)
<0.001
Figure 1. The most common medical symptoms or conditions for which antibiotics were selfmedicated (N=781)
50
47.6
Male
45
40
Female
36.7
35
30
25
21.8
19.9
20
16
12.3 13.4
15
12.1
12
8.2
10
5
0
Cold and
fever
Flu
conditions
Ear
Infections
Coughs
and sore
throat
Toothache
Common Symptoms
135
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
have been reported regarding misuse of
resistance.6 Improper use of antibiotics
antibiotics along with self-medication in
the
Chennai.
state
of
Tamilnadu,
communication
and
policy.
are
best
medication
for
These
kind
of
pharmacy
the
excessive
use
of
and
some
developing
even
though;
some
Although
implementing
the
patient satisfaction.
136
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
Misuse of antibiotics may be caused by
In present study shows that patients are
several causative factors, such as socio-
economic,
and
pediatrician
parental
antibiotics.24
in
treated
25
respiratory
cultural,
cognitive
reported
Another
that,
study done
by
antibiotics
tract
were
infections
upper
(URTI)
other
practice
regulation,
unrestricted
antibiotics
from
sources
pharmacist
are
are
common
access
pharmacies
dispensing
to
and
antibiotics
29,30,31
when
present
with
upper
Powerful
cefatoxine,
antibiotics
cefdinor,
like
cefadroxyl,
cefetamet,
and
Retail
pharmacist
or
by
qualified
doctor
or
137
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
be punished on the spot. Self-medication
impact on misuse of antibiotics and other
with antibiotics has the potential hazard to
individual patients health as well as
public at huge level. This will create an
impact on antibiotics resistance health
related
problem,
our
present
study
obtaining
antibiotics
and
common
A strong
prevalence
with
determine
of
the
self-medication
prevalence
of
self-
bacterial
violate such
pharmacy laws.
138
Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
Problem
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Self-Medication and Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription in Chennai, India: A Major Public Health
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