Factors Associated With Ophthalmic Self Medication Among Adult Patients Attending Sabatia Eye Hospital in Vihiga County, Kenya

Peter Koome Mutuma, Alloysius Luambo Omoto and George Muthui
Additional contact information
Peter Koome Mutuma: German Doctors-Baraka Health Center, Kenya
Alloysius Luambo Omoto: German Doctors-Baraka Health Center, Kenya
George Muthui: German Doctors-Baraka Health Center, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 2024, vol. 10, issue 12, 317-338

Abstract: Background: Self-medication is the selection and use of non-prescription medicines by individuals’ own initiatives to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms. Ophthalmic eye drugs are widely used by many people who trickle into drug stores for the most common and readily available eye drugs ignoring the potential danger they expose themselves to. Objectives: The study sought to determine socioeconomic factors associated with ophthalmic self-medication among adult patients attending Sabatia eye hospital in Vihiga County, Kenya. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The research was carried out at Sabatia eye hospital, Vihiga County, Kenya. The study population for this research was drawn from 322 patients seeking eye services at the study site. Systematic sampling method was used to select the study subject. The study used structured questionnaires to collect data though interviews and analysis was done using SPSS version 25 and results presented in proportions using tables and graphs. Results: A total of 322 respondents were included into the study which is 101.9% of the 316 participants targeted. Majority of males (49.6%) said they self-medicated because of due to long hospital queues. Respondents aged 40-69 years are more likely to use traditional herbs to treat eye illnesses. Those with college or degree level of education (11.5%) are more likely to self-medicate with antibiotics. Most of the respondents 51.6% presenting with redness of eyes are likely to use antibiotics, while those with trauma 41.8% reported use of drug left overs and were less likely to seek hospital treatment. Those aged 60-69 years reported use of milk as a mode of treatment while the ones aged 18-29 years (8.6%) reported distance as a factor leading to self-medication Recommendations: Health Providers should have quality time with patient coupled with proper counseling on use of drugs as this is regarded as one of the essential components of the overall medicine use process. Rules and regulations on dispensing of medicines from pharmacies should be reinforced and train and employ more eye health workers

Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/d ... issue-12/317-338.pdf (application/pdf)
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/artic ... vihiga-county-kenya/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bjc:journl:v:10:y:2024:i:12:p:317-338

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation is currently edited by Dr. Renu Malsaria

More articles in International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation from International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Renu Malsaria ().