Table 5.
Summary of medications used for self-medication and conditions treated by self-medication practice (n = 473)
| Variable | Frequency | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| aClass of medication used for self-medication (n = 1172) | ||
| Analgesic | 353 | 30.1 |
| Antimalarial | 352 | 30.0 |
| Antibiotics | 182 | 15.5 |
| Multivitamins | 142 | 12.1 |
| Antihistamine | 115 | 9.8 |
| Slimming pills | 19 | 1.6 |
| Others | 9 | 0.9 |
| aConditions treated by self-medication practice (n = 1977) | ||
| Headache | 363 | 18.4 |
| Malaria | 334 | 16.9 |
| Cough | 184 | 9.3 |
| Menstrual pain | 170 | 8.6 |
| Cold and flu | 158 | 8.0 |
| Fever | 143 | 7.2 |
| Sore throat | 141 | 7.1 |
| Diarrhea | 113 | 5.7 |
| Stomachache | 105 | 5.3 |
| Constipation | 73 | 3.7 |
| Skin infections | 71 | 3.6 |
| Vomiting | 34 | 1.7 |
| Infections (toothache, STDs and UTI) | 29 | 1.5 |
| Eye problem | 28 | 1.4 |
| Ear problem | 21 | 1.1 |
| Ulcer | 4 | 0.2 |
| Rhinitis | 2 | 0.1 |
| Toothache | 2 | 0.1 |
| Sinusitis | 1 | 0.05 |
| Nausea | 1 | 0.05 |
aMultiple response