Factors associated with self-medication with antimalarial Drugs in Gesima Location, Masaba District

Abstract

Background: Inappropriate drug use in self-medication with antimalarial drugs leads to emergence of drug resistant pathogens, wastage of resources and poses serious health hazards such as adverse reactions and prolonged suffering. Self-medication with antimalarial drugs is rampant in the developing countries. Studies on the pattern of this practice lack in Kenya. Study Objective: To determine the magnitude and evaluate the factors associated with self-medication with antimalarial drugs among adults in Gesima Location, Masaba District. Specific Objectives: To determine the magnitude of self-medication with antimalarial drugs To identify the reasons for self-medication with antimalarial drugs To determine the sources of self-medicated antimalarial drugs To establish the legal status of drug outlets in Gesima location Study Area and Study Population: This study was carried out in Gesima location, Masaba district, Nyanza province. All adults above 18 years irrespective of their gender living in Gesima Location during the study period were considered. The study included 384 individuals. Research design: This was a community based cross-sectional survey. Research instruments: Data were collected by structured questionnaires and schedule interviews. Data analysis Data analysis was done using SPSS version 15 by frequency distribution models, Chi-square test, Spearman rank correlation, logistic regression model and parametric test (t-test) after data coding. Results: This study established that 83.1 % of the adults sampled self-medicated with antimalarial drugs whenever they suspected to be suffering from malaria. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of suspected malaria episodes and the practice of self-medication. The main reasons given by the respondents for this practice were convenience (87%), lower cost (83%) and that it saved time (76.4%). Only 3% of the self-medicated antimalarial drugs were Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies, the government's first line drug at the time of this study. Young age, medium income levels and household size were the socio-economic factors found to be associated with the practice in this study. Sources of antimalarial drugs used for self-medication were general shops, drug shops and mobile drug vendors. All sources selling antimalarial drugs in Gesima location had no legal mandate to stock and dispense these drugs. Conclusions: There was a high magnitude of self-medication with antimalarial drugs among adults of Gesima location. Recommendations: This study reported a high magnitude of self-medication with antimalarial drugs in Gesima Location. With the recorded evidence of high levels of resistance to most of the antimalarial drugs used for self-medication in the location, there is need for the training of the informal medicine sellers to become effective and safe providers of antimalarial drugs. Public education activities on the importance of seeking healthcare services from qualified professionals are also necessary and the government needs to strengthen the regulatory control of the stocking and dispensing of antimalarial drugs.