Abstract
Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with self-medication in dermatology in Lomé, Togo. Methods We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study from February to April 2016 in 2 dermatology departments in Lomé. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were carried out to identify possible factors associated with self-medication. Results A total of 711 patients were included in the study. The mean age (±SD) of the patients was 26.6 ± 6.9 years and the sex ratio (male/female) was 0.6. The main dermatologic diseases recorded were immunoallergic dermatoses (39.7%) and infectious skin diseases (22.6%). Two-thirds (481/711; 66.7%) of the patients had practiced self-medication before consultation in dermatology units. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with self-medication were female sex (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI = [1.01, 2.05]), duration of dermatologic disease more than one year (aOR = 1.79; IC = [1.19, 2.68]), adnexal dermatoses (aOR = 2.31; 95% IC = [1.03–5.21]), keratinization disorders (aOR = 4.23; 95% CI = [1.36–13.13]), and fungal skin infections (aOR = 5.43; 95% CI = [2.20, 13.38]). Conclusion Our study confirms that self-medication practice is very common among patients with dermatologic diseases in Lomé and has identified associated factors.
Highlights
In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a wide range of therapeutic options, ranging from modern medicine to traditional medicine, religious cults or healing prayer, and selfmedication
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines selfmedication as practices by which people deal with aches and health conditions with drugs that are approved and available without prescription and are safe and effective when used according to inscriptions [2]
All patients aged over 15 years who consulted for dermatologic diseases for the first time and who gave their consent were
Summary
In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a wide range of therapeutic options, ranging from modern medicine to traditional medicine, religious cults or healing prayer, and selfmedication. In this wide range, self-medication occupies an important part for social, economic, and psychological reasons [1]. Self-medication is called anarchic when treating a real or imagined pathological condition by drugs selected without medical advice or without consulting a health care professional in his area of competences [2]. This includes self-prescribing but excludes drug addiction [3]. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with self-medication in patients with dermatologic diseases in Lome, Togo
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