THE CHALLENGE TO PREVENTION OF SELF-MEDICATION IN PATIENTS WITH SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Abstract

Self-medication is the practice of ingesting medicines on our own account and risk. This research aimed to identify the profile of the population treated in the public health network from a municipality in the northern state of Mato Grosso who had Sexually Transmitted Diseases, as well as their behavior in response to these diseases and the practice of self-medication. The samples were composed of 72 volunteers from the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and 99 individuals of the Specialized Service of Sexual Transmitted Disease DST/AIDS. The results showed a high prevalence of self-medication among the population. The DST carriers have shown reluctance to seek health care due to embarrassment of exposing their sexuality, thus contributing to the acquisition of family medicine through sharing or surrounding or the use of leftover drugs and reusing old prescriptions. And Brazil takes the fifth position in the world ranking of drug consumption, ranking first in consumption in Latin America and the ninth in the world market in financial volume

Keywords

• Self-medication
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• National Health System