Covid-19 Pandemic and Behavioural Response to Self-Medication Practice in Western Uganda
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
medRxiv
Abstract
Self-medication has become is a serious public health problem globally posing great risks,
especially with the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 disease in Uganda. This is may be
partly because of the absence of a recognized treatment for the disease, however, the prevalence
and nature differ from country to country which may influence human behavioural responses.
Aim
This study aimed to investigated the beharioural response of the community towards selfmedication
practices during this COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Methods
A cross sectional household and online survey was conducted during the months of June-to-
August. The study was conducted among adult between age 18 above in communities of western
Uganda who consented to participate in the study. Study participants were selected using a
convenience sampling technique and sampling was done by sending a structured online
questionnaire via Google forms and a printed copies questionnaire made available to other
participants that did not use the online questionnaire
Results
The percentage of respondents that know about self-medication is (97%) and those that practice
self-medication are approximately (88%). 97% of respondents have heard about self-medication
either through health workers, media, family members, friends and/or school while 3% said they
have not heard about self-medication. The percentage of respondents who practiced selfmedication
during COVID-19 pandemic is 57% while those that did not is 43%. There is
statistically difference in the number of those that practice self-medication and those that do not
p < 0.005 at 95% confidence interval. Also there was a statistically significant decrease in the
number of respondents that practice self-medication during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown
compare to the practice before the pandemic lockdown p < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval.
Conclusion
Our investigation showed adequate knowledge of self-medication and high level of selfmedication
practice with a decrease in self-medication practices during the COVID-19 pandemic
lockdown compared to the practice before the lockdown.
Description
Keywords
Covid-19, Self-medication, Pandemic, Behavioural response, Lockdown, Drugs
Citation
Dare, S. S., Eze, E. D., Isaac, E., Usman, I. M., Ssempijja, F., Bukenya, E. E., & Ssebuufu, R. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic and behavioural response to self-medication practice in Western Uganda. medRxiv, 2021-01. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.02.20248576;