Self Medication Practices: Insights from Caregivers to Their Under Five Children in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The act of childcare by caregivers requires meticulous attention especially to under-five children in any clime. This paper aggregates the understanding of caregivers on the practice of self-medication to their under-five children. A qualitative approach using Focus group discussions among selected caregivers to under-five children in Osun and Lagos states of southwestern states of Nigeria was used for data collection. Thematic analysis was done with the assistance of the ATLAs Ti package. The caregivers’ understanding of the practice included; re-use of medications based on previous illnesses, use of familiar drugs, and use of medications without conducting any laboratory investigations. Also they ascribed the practice to the use of medication for minor ailments only and largely on their individual perception of their under-five children. Most caregivers were knowledgeable of the practice though in diverse contexts, thereby provided different social milieu for the practice. In the overall, the study revealed the caregivers’ different understanding of what self-medication practice to their under-five children are.