A comparative study on prevalence and pattern of self-medication in urban and rural population in Palakkad District, Kerala

Abstract

Background & Aims: Self-medication refers to the consumption of medicines to treat self-diagnosed disorders without consulting a medical practitioner. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and pattern of self-medication using modern medicines in selected rural and urban areas of the Palakkad district. Materials &Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Ottapalam Municipality and Vaniyamkulam Panchayat of Palakkad district, Kerala, India. Study participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling method. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Excel before being exported to the SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, proportions, and summary statistics, were calculated to examine the distribution of independent variables. Chi-square tests were performed to assess associations between demographic factors and self-medication practices. Results: A total of 131 participants were included in the study. The overall prevalence of self-medication was 67.2% (n=88), while 32.8% (n=43) did not practice self-medication. Among those who self-medicated, 88.6% (n=78) cited previous experience as the deciding factor for their self-medication practices. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of self-medication in the studied population, with previous experience being a major influencing factor. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions and stricter regulation of over-the-counter medications. Future research should explore the potential risks associated with self-medication practices and develop strategies to promote responsible medication use in this region.

Keywords

• cross-sectional
• healthcare professionals
• rural
• self-medication
• urban