Household survey on the pattern of utilization of medicines in selected communities in South Africa

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of drug use, and how morbidity, use of health services, self-evaluated health, demographic pattern and lifestyle characteristics influence drug use in a general population. The sample included 400 households randomly selected from two provinces (Western Cape and Limpopo). Results showed that 29% of the medicines used were not prescribed by a health professional. The numbers of households keeping antibiotics were 11.3%, analgesics 26.8%, steroids 1.0%, and vitamins 6.0%. Most respondents (62.1%) indicated that they had obtained these medicines free of charge, while 25.1% paid in the range of 1 to 25 rand and 12.8% paid above 25 rand for their medicines. Most participants indicated that they have access to a health facility within 10km of their residence where they could obtain medicines, could be reached within 30 minutes, and it would cost less than 5 rand for transport to reach the facility. On the management of childhood diarrhea, most respondents (63%) indicated that they would first give oral rehydration solution (ORS) while 22% said they would start by taking the child to a health professional. Our findings suggest a need for an educational intervention to help patients decide on the appropriateness of self-medication so as to improve on rational drug use at household level. Attempts to reduce inappropriate self-medication should target prescribers, pharmacists, and the general public.