Self-medication practices among rural households atChiraigaon Block, Varanasi

Background & Objective: Self-medication is defined as medication taken on the patient own initiative or on the advice of pharmacist or any other lay person. Unavailability of qualified medical personnel in rural areas pushes the rural households for self-medication practices. The present study was conducted to elicit the self-medication pattern among rural households and its indicators across various socio-demographic parameters. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 household. The study was carried during November 2013 to January 2014. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used for the study. The door to door approached was used. Out of 1500 household, 270 were sampled in this study. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was done by using Microsoft excel 2007.Result: Medicine was available in 46.7%. Among these medicine Antibiotics was most commonly available (84.1%), followed by Antipyretics (74.6%), Analgesic (64.3%), anti-histaminic (58.7%), Multivitamin (24.6%).Fever was the most common indication (83.3%) for self-medication, followed by Body ache/Headache (51.6%). Diarrhea (53.2%), Cough (61.9%) Weakness (23.8%). In 11.1% household medicine was found expired. 77.8% of household check expiry before use medicines. Unavailability of qualified doctor (36.5%) was most common reason for self-medication. Responded were getting these medicine from medical shops either by telling symptoms (38.1%) or by using empty blister/bottle (30.2%).Conclusion: Self-medication is increasing at alarming pace. There is need to ensure community education, safety and efficacy of self-medication.

Domestic environment and morbidity of under five children.

Healthy environment for children initiating an alliance for action (WHO) has reported that over 40% of the global burden of disease attributed to environmental risk factors fall on children below 5 years of age, who account for about 10% of the world's population. That is why to look into the new area of concern, this cross sectional study was carried out to explore the influence of domestic environment over the illness of under five children.