Household Knowledge and Perceptions on Disposal Practices of Unused Medicines in Kenya

Debertolis, Paolo; Nikolic, Domagoj; Tarabella, Natalia

doi:10.15640/jaa.v4n2a1

Cited by 32 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…4 Studies conducted in different countries indicated there were diverse practices of disposal of unused medicine. For example, studies conducted in Kenya 10 and Nigeria 11 indicated that the most preferred disposal method for unused medications was throwing in garbage bins followed by flushing in toilets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<p>Disposal Practices of Unused Medications Among Patients in Public Health Centers of Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Survey</p>

Kassahun

Tesfaye

2020

IPRP

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Background: Disposal of pharmaceutical waste among patients is a global challenge, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Improper medication disposal can lead to health problems and environmental contamination. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess disposal practices of unused medications among patients in public health centers of Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 263 patients in four public health centers of Dessie town, Ethiopia from March to June 2019. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were used to collect data from each study subject. Results: The majority of the respondents, 224 (85.17%), had unused medications at their home during the study period. The most commonly reported disposal method in the present study was flushing down into a toilet, 66 (25.09%). None of the respondents practiced returning unused medications to the pharmacy. Moreover, 85 (32.31%) of the respondents reported never disposing of their medications and believed that it is acceptable to store medications at home for future use. Conclusion: In the present study, there was a high practice of keeping medications at home and most of the disposal practices were not recommended methods. In addition, most of the respondents did not receive advice from pharmacists and other health-care professionals on how to dispose of unused medications. Hence, there is a need for proper education and guidance of patients about disposal practices of unused medications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<p>Disposal Practices of Unused Medications Among Patients in Public Health Centers of Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Survey</p>

Kassahun

Tesfaye

2020

IPRP

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“…6 Furthermore, there are greater chances for misuse and abuse of unwanted or unused medications when stored in the household. 7 Studies conducted in Kenya 8 and Nigeria 9 identified the most preferred method of unused medicines disposal as throwing in garbage bins followed by flushing in the toilets. Some studies also identified that the unused medicines were kept in the household due to unawareness of methods to dispose them, providing an opportunity to share to friends and families.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness on the Disposal of Expired and Unused Medicines among Medication Consumers

S¹,

Logeshwaran²,

Rani³

et al. 2019

JYP

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Objectives: Safe disposal of expired, unwanted, or unused medications by the consumers is a major challenge worldwide. The knowledge, attitude and practice of consumers on disposal of unused and expired medicines were assessed. Methods: Data on demographics, educational, occupation, socioeconomic status, drugs purchased, number of unused or expired drugs were obtained from medicine consumers. Knowledge, attitude and practice of safe disposal methods, number, most common class, dosage forms of leftover drugs and the reasons were assessed using a questionnaire. Effect of educational, occupational, socioeconomic status on purchase of drugs, awareness on the consequences of improper disposal of drugs were assessed using chi square test. Results: Of 145 participants, 46 % were females and 54% were males with a mean age of 36.76 + 13.60 years. 66 participants stated 1-5 drugs as leftover at home and the reason for possession of unused medicines as self-discontinuation after the condition was resolved. Most common drugs left unused at home were analgesics and the dosage form was tablets. 76.6% were unaware of the consequences of improper drug disposal. 65.5% stated the acceptable method to dispose medicines as collection of unused drug by Municipality. Majority (88%) disposed unused or expired medicines in the garbage. There was a statistically significant association between educational, occupational and socio economic status, purchase of drugs and awareness on consequences of improper drug disposal (P<0.05). Conclusion: Most of the participants had leftover of unused or expired drugs in their households and there was lack of awareness on safe disposal of medicines.

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“…Medicines over-prescribed may also increase the disposal of UUE medicines [6]. Unused medicines collection program in California (USA) showed that 50% OTC and 45% POM were discarded unused [7][8][9][10][11]. Disposal practice at healthcare facilities (HCFs) is regulated by the concerned states but remains undetected and unregulated at household levels even in the USA [12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the USA, Marin County commenced medicine take-back program in 2005 to reduce the burden of household pharmaceutical waste [10]. Similarly, New Zealand, and Canada also launched Disposal of Unwanted Medication Properly (DUMP) campaign and ENVIRx disposal program respectively [7,9]. Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the UK are running take-back programs through pharmacies in collaboration with public or private waste contractor [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the UK are running take-back programs through pharmacies in collaboration with public or private waste contractor [15]. Demands for the community-based medicine take-back programs conducted by pharmacies (either single day event or perpetual) are on increasing trend in the UK and the USA, and these are responding effectively to the needs of community people [7,13,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Implementation of Medicine Take-back Concept at Community Level in Nepal: a Feasibility Study

Sapkota

Giri

Bhatta

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Medications are not always completely consumed as purchased from pharmacy due to lack of awareness, forgetfulness. So, most households may have leftover, unwanted, unused and expired (UUE) medicines. They may lead to health hazards and environment pollution. The present study was aimed to analyze feasibility of implementation of medicine take-back in select communities of Nepal.Methods: Exploratory study was conducted among adults (total 400) in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kaski, Kanchanpur and Kailali districts from July 2017 to January 2018. Study sites and participants were selected by simple random sampling and respondents were interviewed about their awareness about medicine disposal techniques, possible hazards and their willingness to support take-back program using semi-structured questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the relationship of various take-back related outcomes with the predictors. The p-value less than 0.05 was statistically significant at 95% confidence level. Results: The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that there was significant relationship of health hazards (rashes and diarrhea) among the farmers, engineers, nurse and lawyers (p value <0.01 in each). Land pollution and effect on health of children was significantly related with the inappropriate disposal of medicines such as site of disposal (p value <0.01), river (p value 0.02), garbage (p value 0.04), and dumping site (p value 0.01). The analysis of the willingness to follow take-back program with the techniques of support showed significant relationship with the establishment of collection center and participation on seminar (p value <0.01). Conclusions: Most participants kept UUE medicines in home, disposed with household rubbish and flushed down the sink. They were interested to support take-back, if implemented in their community but the main constraint was the budget. Hence, take-back concept could be initiated and implemented on government funding or other external sources.

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Household Knowledge and Perceptions on Disposal Practices of Unused Medicines in Kenya

Cited by 32 publications

References 14 publications

<p>Disposal Practices of Unused Medications Among Patients in Public Health Centers of Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Survey</p>

<p>Disposal Practices of Unused Medications Among Patients in Public Health Centers of Dessie Town, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Survey</p>

Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness on the Disposal of Expired and Unused Medicines among Medication Consumers

Implementation of Medicine Take-back Concept at Community Level in Nepal: a Feasibility Study

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