Statistical Study on Self Medication Pattern in Haryana, India

Abstract

According to WHO's definition, self medication is “The selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat selfrecognized illnesses or symptoms”. Self-medication includes the use of nonprescription drugs and a range of different alternative medicines such as herbal remedies, food supplements, and traditional products. In most illness episodes, self-medication is the first option which makes self-medication a common practice worldwide. People of all socio-demographic categories practice self-medication. The most frequently self-diagnosed illnesses or symptoms of illnesses were: GI illnesses and headache/fever. Of these more than 30% were less than 24 hours duration and nearly 80% less than seven days duration of illness. The reasons given by respondents for self-diagnosis and self-medication were non-seriousness of the illnesses, for emergency use and prior experience about the illness. Whatever the duration of illnesses and reasons for self-diagnosis, nearly 60% requested drugs by mentioning the names of the drugs and more than one-fifth by telling the symptoms of their illnesses. Requests for antimicrobial drugs were very high for all reported illnesses and very low for ORS.© 2011 IGJPS. All rights reserved.