Prevalence and Associated Factors of Self Medication Practices among Dental Patients with Toothache Visiting Central Hospital, Benin City

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is the use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms devoid of medical supervision. Such practices may result in antimicrobial resistance, treatment failure, economic loss, serious health hazards, missed diagnosis, delayed appropriate treatment, drug dependency, and adverse drug effects. However, basic evidence is limited to the current status of its practices and associated factors among dental patients with toothache visiting Central Hospital, Benin City. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of self-medication practices among dental patients with toothache visiting Central Hospital, Benin City.

Methods: This was a hospital -based cross-sectional study which was carried-out within 1 year. A total of 403 patients were surveyed with a self-administered structured questionnaire. The Excel Spreadsheet and SPSS (version 22) were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Results were presented using figures, frequencies and tables, with Chi square and Fisher’s test conducted as appropriate. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of self-medication. Statistical significance was evaluated at P-value <0.05 and a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: The prevalence of self-medication practices among dental patients presenting with toothache was 61% (246). Analgesics and Antibiotics were the most self-medicated drugs with patent medicine store the major source of drugs. Age, Educational status, Occupational status and Ethnicity were significant predictors of Self-medication. The main reasons for self-medication were nearness of chemist/pharmacy shops (16%); lack of access to dental services: (15.1%); financial problems (13.3%), and lack of time due to work (12.7%). Majority of the patients (63.0%) who self-medicated for toothache experienced side effects, with stomach ache being the most common side effect.

Conclusion: More than half of the respondents practiced self-medication, which is moderately

higher than findings on prevalence in some studies. The major sources of the self-medicated drugs were Patent Medicine Stores and Pharmacy Shops. Therefore, interventions to decrease self-medication should emphasize access to drugs based on Doctor’s prescription.