PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF ANTIMICROBIAL SELFMEDICATION AMONG RESIDENTS OF MANDERA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Background: Self-medication exposes patients to serious health risks, leading to major public health concerns of drug resistance. The cost of treating patients with drug resistant infections is normally projected as compared to those with responsive infections.
Objectives: This study sought to determine the extent and determinants of self-medication among residents of Mandera County, Kenya. It particularly
evaluated the health system drivers, knowledge, attitudes, and practices in
relation to antimicrobial usage and most commonly self-mediated
antimicrobials.
Materials and methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, the study included 366 consenting participants aged 18 years and above residing in Mandera County, Kenya. Participants were sampled through stratified, simple random, and proportionate sampling. Data was collected by administering selfcompletion questionnaires containing open- and closed-ended questions. Analysis was conducted using STATA version 14, where descriptive statistics (percentages and frequencies) were used to provide descriptions of findings. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were applied to establish associations between variables.
Results: 73.8% (n=270) of respondents reported to have self-medicated.
Amoxicillin (20.0%), Doxycycline (15.6%) and Erythromycin (13.3%) were the commonest anti-biotics that were self-medicated. All health system related factors were significantly associated with antimicrobial self-medication; distance to health facilities (aOR = 0.150, 95% CI (0.085-0.265), p = 0.000), long waiting time at the hospital (aOR = 0.340, 95% CI (0.200-0.580), p = 0.004), attitude of health professionals (aOR=0.200, 95%CI (0.110-0.330) p=0.004) and unavailability of medication from health facilities (aOR= 0.000,95% CI (0.140- 0.430), P=0.000).

Conclusions and recommendations: This study concludes that most of the
residents had self-medicated in the last year for less than five times. The national government and policymakers should revise the existing policies on selling of antibiotics over the counter to include most, if not all, antimicrobials and also raise community awareness on the dangers of self-medication.