Self-Medication Practices among Clients of ShananGibe Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia

Abstract

Back-ground:Self-medication makes consumers more health conscious, reduces treatment burden on healthcare facilities and curtails the cost and time of obtaining access to treatment. However, it increases risks such as drug resistance, adverse drug reactions, incorrect diagnosis, drug interactions and poly-pharmacy. No data is available on the current status of self-medication practices among Shanangibe hospital which the current study is aimed. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the practices and factors associated with self-medication in Shanan Gibe hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia. Methods:A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Shanan Gibe hospital fromJune 11 to 16, 2015. According to the data from the hospital, which clients used SM before one month, the number of patientsserved at adult OPD in March,was 450,112 patients who are expected to come into one week period were taken consecutively for the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection to assess self-medication practices. The data were collected by threefourth year three health officer students. The validity and reliability of the data collection format was (pre-tested) before the actual study period. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. An official letter was taken from Jimma university communtiy Based Education office to Shanangibe hospital administrative office.