Self Medication Pattern among Housewives in Rural Field Practice Area of MVJ MC & RH, Hoskote

Self-Medication can be defined as obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance of treatment. There is a lot of public and professional concern about the irrational use of drugs.

To assess the self medication pattern among housewives

To assess the aitude towards self medication

A Cross sectional survey was conducted in rural field practice area of MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital and interviewed 100 housewives taking self medication irrespective of age using pre tested semi structured questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using SPSS software for windows version 16

Majority of the study subjects were in the age group 20–30 years (45%) and 78% subjects belonged to Hindu religion. Majority of study subjects had studied upto high school (36%) and 11% were illiterates. The most common medical condition for which study subjects took medicines was fever and pain (32%), followed by fever, pain and cough 18%, only pain 15%, fever and cough 13%, only fever 9%. Lack of time (38%) was the main reason for self medication other reasons being financial constraints 29%, minor ailments 17%, and distant health centre 13%. 86% of study subjects responded that taking self medication is harmful.

It can be concluded that majority of subjects taking self medication were in younger age groups, highly educated and higher socio economic status. Most common reason was lack of time and financial constraints. This study highlights the urgent need of public education about specific risk/side effects of self medication and its importance.