Self-Prescribed Pharmacological Drugs Used for Covid-19 Prevention and Treatment in the Current Pandemic

Abstract

The practice of using pharmacological drugs not prescribed by qualified medical practitioners is a worrying trend especially in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It is a global issue that has attracted the attention of physicians and various stakeholders in the health care systems in developing and developed countries. Such practice is associated with overdosage, allergic reaction, infection resistant to antibiotic, wrong diagnosis, delay in seeking treatment at health facilities and drug addiction. This study assessed the prevalence of self-prescribed antibiotics, analgesics, vitamins, and minerals by a cross section of burgesses in the Prices Town Regional Corporation (PTRC) in South Trinidad to treat and prevent Covid-19 infection. A descriptive cross-sectional survey in online and paper and pencil questionnaire formats was conducted from February 2022 to April 2022 on 286 self-selected participants from a population of 1000 residents. Data entry and analysis conducted after merging them using Google Charts. Prevalence of Ivermectin was 9.44%, Zithromax 3.15, Steroids 3.5% Panadol 33.6%, Vitamins C 63.3%, Zinc 60.8%, D3 55.2 %, and B Complex 11.9%. Multivariate analysis performed on dependent and independent variables showed that the use of self-prescribed medication was significantly associated with age group 26-35 years (COR 0.15, p0.00129, 95% CI 0.04, 0.51 at significance level of p≤0.05) and marital status of being separated from spouses (COR 2.48, p0.0229, 95% CI 1.02, 6.06, significance level of p≤0.05). More females practiced self-medication compared to males. The researcher recommends health education to curb the practice. Keywords: Prevalence, Treatment, Self-prescribed antimicrobials, Analgesic, Vitamins, Covid-19, Pandemic, Infection.