Impact of Self-medication among Urban and Rural Literate Population.

This is prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study which was carried out among 300 literate subjects of both urban and rural population. The objective of our study was to compare the impact and pattern of self-medication between urban and rural literate population. Three hundred literates with one hundred and fifty each in urban and rural population were provided with a questionnaire containing various questions on the implications, pattern and reasons for selfmedication. Data was analyzed statistically using SPSS version 18 for counts and percentage. Respondents in the urban group fell ill more often than in the rural group (33% v/s 26%) but tendency to self-medicate was less (71% v/s 86%). Use of previous prescription was also less common (67% v/s 81%) among them. Incidence of adverse drug reactions was less (17% v/s 27%); however, emergencies were more (51% v/s 13%) among urban population. Self-medication was largely due to lack of time (66% v/s 47%) and antibiotics were more frequently used (26% v/s 7%). Though lack of time (47%) was the commonest reason for self-medication in rural population, cost was also an important factor (17%). In both the groups, analgesics were the most commonly used drugs for self-medication (U = 46%, R = 53%).The pattern of self-medication is different in urban and rural literate populations. Adverse reactions including emergencies can occur due to selfmedication. Hence, awareness about self-medication and its hazards has to be created among both urban and rural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]