Medicine Usage Behavior among Common People of Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Medication usage behavior of people is an important concern for health authorities worldwide. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of self-medication, perception about drug storage, dosage regimen, side effects and missing doses of prescribed medications among people of Bangladesh. The study also aimed at the different factors that regulate the above-mentioned behavior of people from different regions of the country. This cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire form that was distributed randomly among the people. A total of 1028 respondents took part in the survey. Different statistical operations were done on the responses and the results were presented were using tables and graphs. Among the participants, 31.52% often practiced self-medication and 26.94% did it rarely. There was a significant correlation between self-medication and educational qualification (p=0.023) and residence (p<0.001) variables. The tendency to not completing the dosage regimen is high in villages (44%) than urban (35%) and semi-urban (38%) areas. The rate of not recovering the missing doses is higher (40%) among the people with a low level of education than the educated people (27%). This study showed a significant correlation among medicines usage behavior and educational qualification and residential area of the participants. The policymakers should take steps to increase awareness about the safe use of medicines among common people of rural area.