Prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment behaviour among different elder subgroups in rural China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Self-treatment is a common and widespread behaviour, of which the risks are multiplied in old age. However, the determinants of self-treatment among elders in rural China remain unclear. This study aims to explore the prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment among elders in rural China, trying to discover the vulnerable groups as well as the service gaps among the rural elders. Methods: Based on a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 30 villages in Sinan County, an impoverished county in western China. Data were collected through a household-individual combined questionnaires. The analysis was restricted to elders who reported illness within the last 2 weeks, and the final sample size was 330 (individuals). Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed in the whole sample group and four subgroups to obtain the prevalence ratios regarding the associated factors. Results: In the present study, 35.2% of the elders with illness within the last 2 weeks reported self-treatment. The variables associated with self-treatment in the whole sample group were health status (OR 6.75, 95%CI 1.93-23.60), recent alcohol consumption (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.21-0.83) and the utilisation of family practice services (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.36-0.96); the same predictors were found in the subgroup of elders with chronic diseases. No significant predictors were found in the subgroup of elders without chronic diseases. Empty-nest elders with higher affinity to traditional Chinese medicine (OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.18-0.86) or drinking alcohol recently (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.09-0.82) were less likely to self-treat, while the non-empty-nest elders who were no less than 75 years old (OR 3.10, 95%CI 1.33, 7.22) or at better health status (OR 9.20, 95%CI 1.73-48.75) were more likely to self-treat. Conclusion: Self-treatment was prevalent among the elders in rural China. Better health status, no recent alcohol consumption and no utilisation of family practice are associated with self-treatment among rural elders. Older elders in the non-empty nest group were more likely to self-treat, while the empty-nest elders with self-care habits in traditional Chinese medicine were less likely to self-treat. Deeper understanding of the self-treatment behaviour among rural elders may provide insights for identifying the potential service gaps and developing improvement strategies in the health care delivery system for the elderly in China.

Poverty and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in rural China

“…First, socioeconomic development and geographic distribution and suggestions from experts were assessed. Two counties (DY, Dangyang in Central China; SN, Sinan in Western China) were purposively selected [35]. Second, a multistage stratified random household survey was conducted with face-to-face interviews.…”

Routine Medical Check-Up and Self-Treatment Practices among Community-Dwelling Living in a Mountainous Area of Northern Vietnam

“…Global research shows that the rate of self-treatment, irrespective of whether developed or developing countries, is high. For example, the rate of self-treatment is 50.0% in India [ 8 ], 50.2% in Ethiopia [ 9 ], or 35.2% in rural China [ 6 ]. In the United States, 1%-66% of residents used antibiotics without prescription [ 10 ].…”

“…However, there are still major disparities in health conditions, health care service access, and use between residents living in remote/rural and urban areas in both developed and developing countries [2][3][4]. Geographical distance, constrained financial resources, and insufficient health services provided by qualified health professionals are the main barriers for people in remote areas to access health care, which may also increase the risk of selftreatment and self-medication in this population [5,6].…”

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Self-Treatment among the Elderly—A Comparative Study between Empty and Non-Empty Nesters in Shandong, China

“…A study indicated that more than 4.2 million poor patients with serious or chronic diseases have been treated due to the health poverty alleviation project [26]. Another important explanation for non-empty nesters having a higher prevalence of self-treatment than empty ones is that the family caregivers are often equipped with some knowledge and common skills of healthcare tasks due to the increased frailty of the elderly, and the non-empty nesters would usually deal with their discomfort with the support of their adult children [20].The results suggests that it is important to strengthen health education for elderly and family caregivers to make them understand the risks of improper self-treatment.…”

“…Previous studies have examined the potential determinates of self-treatment among the elderly. The decision to choose self-treatment involves a complex mechanism and is influenced by various factors, including individual, household, accessibility and medical insurance system factors [10,20]. Few studies, however, exist to date in China focusing on the roles of social changes and living arrangements in the use of self-treatment.…”