Self-medication In Children Research Articles

Maternal education, health profession and cigarette smoking are decisive factors for self-medication in children by parents.

Self-medication of children by their parents (SMCP) is an important public health issue as the effects and potential risks may be unpredictable. The objective of this first national Montenegrin study was to assess the prevalence of and factors influencing SMCP among schoolchildren. Data were obtained from a national representative sample of 4496 schoolchildren aged 7-13 years (50.4 % boys). Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire concerning their demographic characteristics, socio-economic and cultural status, as well as the self-medication (SM) of their children. The association between SMCP and parents' socio-economic, demographic or cultural status was assessed by logistic regression analyses. The prevalence rate of SMCP was 24.6 %. Univariate logistic regression showed that maternal socio-demographic characteristics (educational level, employment status, health care profession and smoking habits) were relevant for SMCP. In a multiple logistic regression the independent effect /adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95 % CI)/of maternal factors on SMCP remained for: education /2.23 (1.18-4.24)/, university-level vs. no education; profession /1.50 (1.07-3.00)/, health profession vs. non-health profession; and smoking habit /1.22 (1.04-1.42)/smokers vs. non-smokers. SMCP may be expected for every fourth child in Montenegro. Specific maternal factors that independently raise the probability of SMCP are higher education, health profession and smoking.

Determinants of Self-medication of Children by Their Parents at Kisangani

Determinants of Self-medication of Children by Their Parents at Kisangani

The Effects of Model-Based Educational Intervention on Self-medication Behavior in Mothers with Children less than 2- year

Background: Self-medication by people is one of the major issues in the world that can be lead to numerous medical and economic problems, this especially issue in children under 2 years who are at the age of growth and development have great importance. The aim of this study was investigate the effects of model-based educational interventions on self-medication behavior in mothers with children under 2 years of age who referred to the health centers of Firoozkooh city (Iran). Materials and Methods: This study was quasi - experimental interventional study. The study population consisted of mothers with children under 2 years old referring to health centers of the Firoozkooh city, Iran. The data collection tool was researcher made questionnaire which its validity and reliability was assessed than was used. The required information was collected before and after the educational intervention. Then 4 months after the educational intervention, evaluation was done and data analysis was using SPSS-20. Results: Significant difference was not found between mean scores of knowledge, perceived sensitivity, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy with performance (self-medication) before the educational intervention (P>0.05). But after the educational intervention, statistically significant difference was found between mean scores of knowledge, perceived sensitivity, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy with performance (P<0.05). Conclusion It seems that Model-Based Educational Intervention may be promoted the knowledge and performance of mothers about self-medication in children. Notifying mothers in this filed through the mass media such as radio and television and health care personnel can be used to reduce the self-medication.

Self-medication in Children and Young Patients at University Dental Service

Objective: To analyze the pattern of self-medication in cases of dental infection for children and pre-teens at University Dental Service. Material and Methods: It was performed a structured survey interview with the parents/caregivers of the patients. The survey consisted in seventeen questions about tooth infection episodes experienced by the children during their lives, and which medication was used, as well as information about demographic characteristics of the patient and parents/caregivers. Statistical analysis was performed with the Software SPSS for Windows , version 15.0. Descriptive analysis was performed (mean and standard deviation [SD] or median and percentis). The association between the self-medication and the variables (child age, mother age, mother educational level) was measured by chi-squared test. Results: One hundred and fifty questionnaires were analyzed. In episodes of dental infection, the most common medicaments were amoxicillin (34.8%) and acetaminophen (32.6%). The practice of self-medication was observed in 21.7% of cases. There was no association between the self-medication and the variables as child age, mother age and mother educational level ( P >.05; chi-squared test). Conclusion: Children treated at University Dental Service were exposed to frequent previous use of medicines without prescription, and the data revealed a non-rational use of medications.

Parents' knowledge and attitude to self-medication of children with antibiotics

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in children. Materials and Methods: This study was based on a prevalidated questionnaire distributed to 205 families in the United Arab Emirates, during the period of January-October 2014, on self-medication of their children with antibiotics. Data were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel ® and expressed in terms of both counts and percentages. Results: The response rate was 92.7% most respondents were well educated, and with university degrees and 45 (23.7%) participants were working in the medical field or attained a medical background. The majority of children were between 1 and 12 years of age, and the family's monthly income ranged from moderate to high for most of the participants. Community pharmacy was the main source (152, 80%) of antibiotics, and the main source of information was the pharmacists, followed by doctors and medication leaflets. Reasons for self-medication with antibiotics included previous experience with symptoms (100, 52.6%), and minor illness (67, 35.3%). The majority (141, 74.2%) of participants was aware of consequences of antibiotic misuse and bacterial resistance. The most commonly utilized antibiotic for self-medication was an amoxicillin - clavulanic acid combination. Antibiotics were most commonly used without prescription for respiratory symptoms including sore throat (104, 54.7%), cold/flu (85, 44.7%), and runny nose/nasal congestion (56, 29.5%). Conclusion: Antibiotics are still used for conditions which are viral in origin and parents, misconceptions about antibiotics call for organized extensive efforts to increase public awareness of the rational antibiotic use.

Automedicação em menores de cinco anos em municípios do Pará e Piauí: prevalência e fatores associados

OBJETIVOS: medir a prevalência e identificar fatores associados à automedicação em crianças menores de cinco anos nos municípios de Caracol no Estado do Piauí, e Garrafão do Norte no Pará. MÉTODOS: utilizando-se de delineamento transversal, amostragem sistemática e utilização de questionário padrão por meio de visita domiciliar, foram investigadas diversas características das mães, das famílias e das crianças. Utilizou-se teste do qui-quadrado para comparar proporções e regressão de Poisson com ajuste robusto da variância na análise multivariável. RESULTADOS: dentre as 590 crianças estudadas em Caracol e 1081 em Garrafão, 30% e 25% haviam sido automedicadas nos últimos 15 dias, respectivamente. Após análise ajustada para diversas variáveis confundidoras, o fato de não conseguir atendimento para o filho doente nos últimos 15 dias nos dois municípios, assim como de residir há mais de 1 km dos serviços de saúde em Caracol e de a mãe exercer trabalho remunerado nos últimos 12 meses em Garrafão mostraram-se significativamente associadas à automedicação entre menores de cinco anos. CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência de automedicação por parte das mães para menores de cinco anos nos municípios estudados, apesar de inferior à observada em outras localidades brasileiras, decorreu, sobretudo, da dificuldade de realização de consulta médica.

1304 Self Medication in Children at the District of Tunis (Tunisia): Focus on Antibiotic Self Medication

1304 Self Medication in Children at the District of Tunis (Tunisia): Focus on Antibiotic Self Medication

Self-Medication Among Children and Adolescents

Self-medication includes several forms through which the individual him/herself or the ones responsible for him/her decide, without medical evaluation, which drug they will use and in which way for the symptomatic relief and "cure" of a condition. It involves sharing drugs with other members of the family and social group, using leftovers from previous prescriptions or disrespecting the medical prescription either by prolonging or interrupting the dosage and the administration period prescribed. Although few researches have studied aspects of self-medication in children and adolescents, some authors have reported a high prevalence of self-medication in this age group. Similar to adults, the highest consumption of drugs involves the use of analgesics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs followed by antibiotics. This review describes the global pattern of self-medication in children and adolescents, and discusses public policies aiming to promote health interventions and strategies to prevent self-medication.

Home medicine chests and their relationship with self-medication in children and adolescents

To investigate the contents of home medicine chests and their relationship with self-medication in children and adolescents in the towns of Limeira and Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. This is a descriptive population study based on a home survey of a simple random sample from both towns, comprising 705 households from census sectors selected by means of cluster sampling. age <or= 18 years; an obligatory interview with at least one guardian; inventory of medicines kept at home; and having taken at least one medication during the 15 days prior to the interview. The participants were split into two groups based on medication: self-medication (lay advice) and medical prescription. Tests of linear association were performed, in addition to a descriptive analysis of the variables and multiple logistic regression. A total of 3,619 medicines were found (mean = 5.1/household; 79.6% were pharmaceutical preparations). The rooms most commonly used to store medications were bedrooms (47.5%), kitchens (29.9%), and bathrooms (14.6%); 76.5% were in cardboard boxes and within easy reach of 142 children aged <or= 6 years. Taking the pharmaceutical preparations in isolation (n = 2,891), the most common were analgesics/antipyretics (26.8%) and systemic antibiotics (15.3%), and the self-medication group had significantly larger stocks of these medications (p < 0.01). Storing medications in the bathroom (odds ratios = 1.59) and legal guardians with <or= 4 years of primary education (odds ratios = 2.40) indicated greater risk of self-medication. Keeping medicines at home is a common practice, and it is important to implement campaigns to encourage rational use, reduced waste and safe storage of medicines.

Self-medication in children and adolescents

To determine the prevalence of self-medication in children and adolescents in the municipalities of Limeira and Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, and to correlate results with sociodemographic indicators and with the use of health care services (public or private). Descriptive population-based study of a simple random sample from the two municipalities, comprised of 772 inhabitants from 85 urban census sectors selected through cluster sampling. age < or = 18 years; interview with one parent/tutor; consumption of at least one drug in the previous 15 days. Subjects were divided into two study groups according to their pattern of drug use: self-medication (lay advice) and medical prescription. Linear association tests, descriptive analysis of variables and multiple logistic regression tests were carried out to analyze data. The prevalence of self-medication was 56.6%. Mothers (51%) and drugstore employees (20.1%) were most frequently responsible for self-medication. The main groups of self-prescribed drugs were: analgesic/antipyretic and non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (52.9%); drugs acting on the respiratory tract (15.4%) and gastrointestinal drugs (9.6%); and systemic antibiotics (8.6%). The situation that most commonly motivated self-medication were respiratory diseases (17.2%), fever (15%), and headache (14%). Subjects in the age group of 7-18 years (odds ratio = 2.81) and public health care users (odds ratio = 1.52) showed increased risk for self-medication. The prevalence of self-medication in children and adolescents was high, which reinforces the need for public health interventions aiming at preventing this practice.