Factors affecting medication administration for the children among care givers in rural ares at Bani-suef

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders, symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for recurrent disease or symptoms. Self-medication is considered as an element of self-care, in which individual select and use medicine to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms, it is response to illness that can be controlled in its early stage. The aim was to assess factors affecting self-medication administration among children caregivers in rural areas at Bani-Suef Governorate. Design: Descriptive research was used. Setting:The study was conducted at two villages and their manors selected randomly in Beni-Suef governorate that was Baha in Beni-Suef governorate and Elnwera in Ihansia city where lack of medical access. Tool; three questionnaires included: I: Personal and demographic data of the caregivers'; II: Most common self-medication questionnaire and III: Factors affecting self-medication questionnaire. Results: The most common self-medication is antipyretic drugs (90.7%) followed by antibiotics and anti-cough as a self-medication drug (70.1%, 69.9%) respectively, on the other hand antidiarrheal, antiemetic and sedative were the lest (15.2%, 11.7%, 2.1%) respectively. Regarding factors related to child disease, having sudden symptoms , and repeated every short time were representing the most prevailing domains, 87.7%, 72.5% respectively, also 63.7% and 62.1% had previous symptoms in previous diagnosed disease. Regarding economic factors, 97.6% of caregiver refered self-medication the increased price of physician examination followed by 55.7% due to not enough income respectively. Conclusion: The major factor affecting on self-medication administration related to child disease is sudden symptoms, also, most of caregivers aligned the increased cost of physician and low income to self medication use. Recommendation: Increase public awareness about the risks of using self-medications without prescription, Educating the public on the types of illnesses that can be self-diagnosed and self-treated and the types of drugs to be used for self-medication as safe and reducing the cost of treatment, ensuring more services such as providing universal medical coverage to all populations.