[Table/Fig-3]:
Characteristics of self-medication among rural dwellers.
| Variable | Number of respondents | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms resulting in self-medication+ | 211 | 64.9 |
| Cold/flu | 195 | 60.0 |
| Pain | 98 | 30.2 |
| Fever | 62 | 19.1 |
| Stomach ache | 52 | 16.0 |
| Diarrhea | 49 | 15 |
| Allergy | 15 | 4.6 |
| Reasons for self-medicating+ | ||
| Lack of time and to save time | 72 | 22.1 |
| Easily purchasable medications from pharmacies | 234 | 72.0 |
| Economic reasons (High costs of visits to doctor/Low cost of purchasing drugs) | 286 | 88.0 |
| Simple sign and symptom of a disease | 218 | 67.1 |
| Convenient (ease of curing perceived symptoms) | 211 | 64.9 |
| Lack of trust toward doctors | 29 | 8.9 |
| Locations for obtaining medications+ | ||
| Pharmacies | 276 | 84.9 |
| Corner stores | 179 | 55.1 |
| From home (previously purchased) | 244 | 75.1 |
| Frequency of self-medication | ||
| One time per week | 36 | 11.1 |
| One time per month | 49 | 15.1 |
| Two times per month | 6 | 1.8 |
| Every two months | 6 | 1.8 |
| Every three months | 42 | 12.9 |
| Every six months | 49 | 15.1 |
| Two times per year | 58 | 17.8 |
| One time per year | 79 | 24.3 |
| Regarding the antibiotic information handout | ||
| Do not read antibiotic information handout | 270 | 83.1 |
| Read antibiotic information handout | 55 | 16.9 |
| How it can effect one’s health, 1 negative effect 10 positive effect | ||
| 1 on a scale of 10 | 105 | 32.3 |
| 2-4 on a scale of 10 | 121 | 37.2 |
| 5-6 on a scale of 10 | 49 | 15.1 |
| 7-8 on a scale of 10 | 26 | 8.0 |
| 9-10 on a scale of 10 | 24 | 7.4 |
| Who respondents go to for advice | ||
| Pharmacy employee | 115 | 35.4 |
| Family | 143 | 44 |
| Friend | 67 | 20.6 |
+(multiple ans)