Year: 2025 | Month: August | Volume: 15 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 148-153
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250820
A Study on Self Medication Among Adult Living in Vingunguti Ilala in Dar Es Salaam
Revocatus Izdory Zungu1, Parthiban Karuppiah1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology
St Joseph University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam- 11007, United Republic of Tanzania.
Corresponding Author: Parthiban Karuppiah
ABSTRACT
Globally, self-medication (SM) is a significant public health issue. This study aims to evaluate self-medication practices among individuals in Vingunguti, Dar es Salaam, assess their knowledge, and uncover predictive variables of potentially inappropriate drug use. The predominant symptoms justifying self-medication pertained to Headaches, fevers, and stomach discomfort prompted 57% of participants to select self-medication; sore throats, coughs, and flu symptoms affected 25% of participants, while 15% chose self-medication owing to vomiting and diarrhoea, and 3% self-medicated for other symptoms. The results reveal that 78% of participants were unaware to the medicines they were consuming, whereas 22% were aware of the drugs. Our study indicates a significant prevalence of self-medication, approximately 78%, among people residing in Vigunguti Ilala, Dar es Salaam.
Key words: self-medication, non-prescription medicines, drugs