Title:Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Medication Practices in India: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
VOLUME: 15 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Muhammed Rashid, Manik Chhabra*, Ananth Kashyap, Krishna Undela and Sai K. Gudi
Affiliation:Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Pharmacy, Adichunchanagiri University, BG Nagara, Karnataka 571448, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sarada Vilas College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, Karnataka 570004, Department of Pharmacy Practice, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, Department of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Keywords:Self-medication, over-the-counter medication, heterogeneity, prevalence, predictors, anti-allergens.
Abstract:Background: Self-Medication (SM) is a practice of using medications to treat selfdiagnosed
symptoms without a legitimate prescription by a health care professional. Alongside
posing a burden on a patient, SM practices are associated with certain unfavourable health conditions
such as drug-resistance, adverse effects, drug-interactions, including death.
Objective: To systematically review and quantify the prevalence of SM practices and its associated
factors in India.
Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was performed using scientific databases such as
PubMed and Cochrane library for the peer-reviewed research articles that were conducted in India
without any language and date restrictions. Studies which were cross-sectional by design and assessing
the prevalence and predictors of SM practices in India were considered for the review, and
all the relevant articles were screened for their eligibility.
Results: Of 248 articles, a total of 17 articles comprising of 10,248 participants were included in the
meta-analysis. Overall, the mean prevalence of SM practices in India was observed to be 53.57%.
Familiarity with the medication appears to be a major reason to practice SM (PR: 30.45; 95%
Confidence Interval [CI]: 17.08-43.82; 6 studies), and the practice was noticed more among
individuals from a middle-lower class family with a prevalence rate of 26.31 (95%CI: 2.02-50.60;
P<0.0001). Minor ailments were the primary reason for practicing SM (PR: 42.46; 95%CI: 21.87-
63.06), among which headache was the most commonly reported (PR: 41.53; 95%CI: 18.05-65.02).
Conclusion: Self-medication practices are quite frequent in India. While NSAIDs and anti-allergens
are the most frequently utilized self-medicated drugs used for headache and cold and cough.
