Disposal of household medications and consumer perception of risk

Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between the disposal of household medication waste and the perception of risks associated with the disposal of household medication waste in the Sertão region of Pernambuco, Brazil. Despite the respondents of the survey demonstrating a high level of agreement (around 90%) regarding the risks associated with improper medication disposal, such as accidental ingestion, soil and water pollution, and public health hazards, the Chi-Square test of independence did not identify a relationship between the variables of having already disposed of medication, disposal of liquid medications, and disposal of pills/capsules. In other words, having an awareness of the risks does not necessarily promote proper disposal of these unused medications. However, having awareness of the risks does increase the likelihood of participating in medication take-back programs at local pharmacies. Therefore, it is crucial to implement social awareness initiatives aimed at increasing citizens' perception of proper management of household medication waste.