ObjectiveSelf-medication is defined as use of medicines to treat self-recognized illnesses. It is widely used in Ethiopia. However, its extent of use is unknown among health professionals. This study aimed to assess prevalence and reasons of self-medication with modern medicines among health professionals. A cross-sectional study was conducted on the health professionals, working in the public health facilities. Data were collected from March to May, 2016 using semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences. A chi square test was used as test of significance at 95% of confidence interval.ResultsA total of 154 health professionals were enrolled, with 53% were being females. The finding revealed that prevalence of self-medication with modern medicines was 67.5%. Financial constraints (32.5%) and familiarity with medicines (24%) were the major reasons of self-medication. It also showed that self-medication with modern medicines was significantly associated with marital status (χ2 = 19.57, P = 0.00). Analgesics (53%) and antibiotics (36%) were the most commonly used categories of medicines. Self-medication with modern medicines was highly practiced among health professionals. Financial constraints and familiarity with medicines were the two major reasons of practicing.

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Ethiopian oat (Triticum decocum) starch has been isolated and examined for its chemical composition and physicochemical properties. The proximate composition of the starch on a dry weight basis is found to be 0.23% ash, 0.26% protein, 1.54% fat, and 56.31% starch. The total amylose content is 28.4% with 20.11% apparent amylose and 29.19% lipid complexed amylose. SEM showed oval, spherical shaped granules. The particle size distributions of the starch showed monomodal normal particle size distribution with the average volumetric particle diameters being about 23.03 µm, and specific surface area 0.7186 m2 g−1. XRD showed a pattern that is typical of A‐type with a distinctive maximum peak at around 17° 2θ. At all relative humidities, its water sorption properties resemble that of maize starch. It has unique swelling power and solubility in water at different temperatures. Viscosity curves of 10% of starch paste showed a peak viscosity of 1926cP. Its cold paste viscosity and hot paste viscosity are 4236 and 1720 cP, respectively. The breakdown and set back viscosities of Ethiopian oat starch are 206 and 2647cP, respectively. The FTIR showed the characteristic features of prominent starch peaks. Physicochemical characteristics of the oat starch have shown that it has similar properties with maize starch which could make it fit for use in food and pharmaceutical industries, especially in the area where oat is produced as endogenous crop like in Ethiopia.

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