ABSTRACT
Background: Most households worldwide keep medicines on hand for various reasons, including emergency use, treatment of acute and chronic diseases, and anticipated future use. Being infected or fear of getting COVID-19 in the current pandemic could increase the storage of drugs at home. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of household storage of medicines and associated factors in southwest Ethiopia during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted from February 1 to May 30, 2022. Data on the extent of storage, storage conditions, their current status, disposal methods, among others, were collected through structured interviews and observations. The data were entered into EPI info, exported, and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). Bivariate followed by multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. P-value <0.05 was used as a cut-off point to decide statistical significance. Results: The magnitude of household medication storage was 48% (95% CI). Analgesics (28.7%) and antibacterial (21.1%) agents were the most predominant class of drugs stored in the households. The most significant proportion of the home-stored medications (34.7%) was reserved for future use, and 31.8% were for treating current medical conditions. The majority of the respondents (84.1%) had never heard/learned about the safe disposal ways of drugs. The presence of children aged less than 5 years in a household [AOR = 1.90 (1.19, 3.05)] and the existence of chronically sick patients in a household [AOR = 4.3 (2.25, 8.45)] were factors significantly associated with household medication storage. Conclusion: The current study revealed a high prevalence of home medication storage; thus, to lessen or eliminate the negative consequences of storing medications at home, it is necessary to review the medication utilization chain and offer community-based training on proper medication storage and disposal techniques, including establishing take-back programs.
ABSTRACT
Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Ethiopia, the indigenous medicinal plant Commelina latifolia Hochst. ex C.B. Clarke leaves are used to treat malaria and wounds. Aim of the study: In this work, the antiplasmodial activity of Commelina latifolia crude leaf extract and solvent fractions against Plasmodium berghei-infected mice was investigated. Materials and methods: 80% methanol was used to extract the leaves of C. latifolia, and the crude extract was fractionated using chloroform, pure methanol, and distilled water. All test compounds were undergone an acute oral toxicity test before being put through Peter's 4-day suppressive test to see if they have antiplasmodial activity. The hydroalcoholic crude extract and chloroform fraction were additionally assessed for antimalarial activity using curative and prophylactic tests in P. berghei-infected laboratory mice. Results: All of the tested crude extracts were safe at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. At 400 mg/kg dose both the 80% methanol extract and chloroform fraction exhibited antimalarial activity with parasitemia suppression values of 86.31%, and 76.56% in the four-day suppressive test, 81.97% and 72.05% in Rane's test, and 69.05% and 62.88% in the prophylactic test, respectively. Conclusion: Collectively, the oral dose of Commelina latifolia is safe, and reveals promising antimalarial activity. The findings backed up the utilization of the plant in traditional medicine to treat malaria.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Practicing self-medication using conventional and/or herbal drugs during pregnancy could contribute/result in illness and death for the mother and embryo. The focus of the current study was to investigate the level of practice and factors affecting self-medication with conventional and herbal drugs among pregnant women who were on follow-up at the antenatal care (ANC) clinic of Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital (MTUTH), Southwest Ethiopia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1st to February 30th, 2022, among 264 pregnant mothers who were on follow-up at antenatal care of MTUTH. A lottery method was used to pick study subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data which was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 24 software. Bivariate followed by multivariate logistic regression was employed to point out factors affecting self-medication practice with conventional and herbal drugs. P-value <0.05 in multivariate analysis was used as a cut-off point to decide statistical significance. Results: It was revealed that 44.3 percent and 49.2 percent of pregnant women self-medicate with conventional and herbal medications, respectively. Women with no history of self-medication were 6.69 folds less likely to practice self-medication using conventional medicine than those with prior experience (AOR: 6.69, 95% CI, (3.847-11.659). Having no health insurance increased the odds of self-medication using conventional medicine by about 46% among pregnant women (AOR: 0.687, 95% CI, (0.373-1.264). Pregnant mothers who joined college/university education were more likely to practice self-medication than mothers without formal education (AOR: 0.656, 95% CI, (0.304-1.414). Gravidity, education level, and history of herbal medicine use were factors that influenced pregnant mothers' use of herbal medicines. Conclusion: According to the present investigation, self-medication by expectant mothers is very common; thus, education and guidance of pregnant women and their partners should be considered during their ANC follow-up to minimize self-medication-associated potential threats.
