SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES WITH ANTIBIOTICS AMONG URBAN DWELLERS OF BAHIR DAR TOWN, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Self-medication practices with Antibiotics among urban dwellers of Bahir Dar town, North West Ethiopia Tena Mekonnen Addis Ababa University, 2014 Self-medication is becoming a common type of self-care behavior among the population of many countries. Many international studies have investigated the prevalence and nature of self- medication practices at the population level. In Ethiopia, some workers have also looked at the population prevalence of self-medication in general; however the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication not been well described. In addition, an increase trend in antibiotic resistance that calls for exploring the underlying factors. This study was performed to estimate the prevalence of self-medication with antimicrobial drugs and to record the stored medicine at home. The study employed a community based cross-sectional survey on a sample of 595 households. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used in the study. The quantitative data was collected by structured and pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS/PC version 17.0 and the qualitative data was collected through in-depth interview and analyzed using thematic analysis. The prevalence of self medication with antibiotics in this study was 12.8%. Respiratory 58.8% and diarrhea 41.2% were most frequently reported symptoms of illness. No significant associations were observed in the practice of self medication with antibiotics and socio demographic variables. From all visited households, 17% were found to store drugs at home. Self-medication with antibiotics is prevalent among urban dwellers of Bahir Dar town, North West Ethiopia. Therefore, there is a need for an intervention to address this practice. Key words: self medication, antibiotics, Ethiopia