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74 Adeba et al. | Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2024; 10(1): 72-77
by two data clerks using two computers in a blinded fashion; Table 1. Social and demographic factors of self-medication practice
principal investigator was responsible for counter checking and associated factors among adult household members of Gubre town,
entered data, assessing 5 – 10% of daily-entered data. Third, after Gurage Zone, Ethiopia
data cleaning, we calculated simple frequency, tabulated variables Variables Category Frequency Percent
for consistency, and addressed layers and missing values. Sex Male 117 29.4
Female 281 70.6
2.6. Data processing and analysis procedure
Age 18 – 24 96 24.1
The data was compiled, analyzed, and presented with tables, 25 – 34 106 26.6
and analysis was performed using SPSS version 24 software. 35 – 44 118 29.6
Logistic regression was performed and all variables with P < 0.25 45 – 54 41 10.3
in bivariable logistic regression were fitted into the backward ≥55 37 9.3
stepwise multivariable logistic regression model. Adjusted Marital status Single 91 22.9
odds ratio (AOR) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) Married 270 67.8
and P < 0.05 was used to interpret the findings of research from Widowed 31 7.8
final models of multivariable regression tables. Divorce 6 1.5
3. Results Religion Orthodox 198 49.7
Muslim 154 38.7
A very high response rate, measuring 95.2% of the total sample, Protestant 36 9.0
was noted, while the remaining 4.8% were non-response rates. Catholic 10 2.5
Among the 398 selected household individuals, 281 (70.6%) Educational status Illiterate 77 19.3
were females. Regarding the age of the respondents, 118 (29.6%) Read and write 74 18.6
were 35 – 44 years. Two hundred and seventy (67.8%) were Elementary (1 – 8) 74 18.6
married. Around half of the respondents’ were orthodox believers Secondary (9 – 12) 122 30.7
(198; 49.7%). In terms of educational status, 122 (30.7%) of the Higher (12+) 51 12.8
respondents had an education background of grade 9 – 12. Most Occupation Employed 264 66.3
of the respondents were employed (264; 66.3%), and the average Non-employed 134 33.7
monthly income was between 1500 and 5000 Ethiopian birr Ethnicity Gurage 343 86.2
(Table 1). Oromo 16 4.0
Of the 398 respondents, 113 (28.4%) of them practice self- Amhara 15 3.8
medication, and 243 (61.1%) reported to have fallen sick within the Others 24 6.0
2 weeks before the study period. Among the reported symptoms, Income per month <1500 162 40.7
headache (62, 25.5%) was the most common, followed by cough (Ethiopian birr)
(39, 16.0%) (Table 2). 1500 – 5000 226 56.8
10
2.2
>5000
Among 113 respondents who practice self-medication,
43 (38%) used analgesic/antipyretics, 27 (23.9%) used anti-
helminths, 26 (23%) used antimicrobials, 9 (8%) used antacids, Table 2. Frequency of symptoms reported by household members of
and 8 (7%) used others as self-medication agents. Among Gubre town, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia
households that practice self-medication, 57 (50.4%) reported that Illness/symptom Frequency Percent
the practice worsened their health condition, 41 (36.3%) reported Headache 62 25.5
improved health condition, and 15 (13.3%) reported no change Cough 39 16.0
after self-medication. Besides, 265 (66.6%) of them reported that Fever 35 14.4
the health service they received was costly, and about 217 (54.5%) Abdominal pain 34 14.0
of them complained of sluggish service. Diarrhea and vomiting 24 9.9
Among those who practice self-medication, 37 (32.7%) of them Heartburn 23 9.5
were male, 35 (31%) were aged 35 – 44 years, 70 (62%) were Difficulty of swallowing 14 5.8
married, and 30 (26.5%) had only received elementary education Others 12 4.9
(Table 3).
Based on bivariate analysis, marital status, educational status,
occupation, thinking about self-medication, peer influence, marital status, educational status, thinking about self-medication,
and income were found to be significant factors influencing the and peer influence (Table 4).
adoption of self-medication. These factors were entered into 4. Discussion
multivariable logistic regression for further analysis to control
for confounding factors. However, a significant association was This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors
observed between self-medication and study variables, such as concerning self-medication in Gubre town.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36922/jctr.00098