ASSESSING THE KNOWLEGE OF YOUTHS (18-30YEARS) ON THE EFFECT OF AUTO MEDICATION IN THE GREAT SOPPO COMMUNITY.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND

Every day, we are practicing self-medication in the form of self-care of our health. In the 1960s in the West, self-care and self-medication were regarded as unnecessary and potentially even unhealthy practices. This approach to medicine was supported by health systems designed to treat sickness rather than preventing disease remains a familiar aspect of health care in many countries to this day. Self-medication has traditionally been define as the taking of drugs, herbs or home remedies on one’s own initiative, or the advice of another person without consulting a doctor. Families, friends, neighbors, the pharmacist, previous prescribed drugs or suggestions from an advertisement in newspapers are common source of self-medication.Self-medication should be seen as the desire and ability of people, patients to play an intelligent, independent and informed role, not merely in terms of decision making but also in the management of preventing, diagnostic activities which concern them(Bennadi, 2011).

Self-medication is defined by World Head Organization (WHO) as the selection and individual use of medicines to alleviate symptoms or cure an illness. The organization has promoted responsible self-medication which, according to the International Council Of Nursing is an important practice in the care of the person for which nursing plays a vital role in its promotion through education(Jose, 2012).

One of the more serious direct consequences of self-medication to the health of the individual in Lartin America is that it masks the symptoms of the illness, which can compromise the diagnosis and therefore the treatment of a condition, which could worsen. However, the frequency of utilization of nonprescription medications has been rising, becoming a negative point to regard as it is now employed with increasing frequency with pharmaceuticals that should be utilized only under medical supervision (Maria, 2012).

Auto-Medication is an important public health problem in the developed and developing countries, with an antimicrobial resistance increasing over time as a result of antimicrobial abuse. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial self-medication as well as associated factors among outpatient consultation. Self-medication is a human practice in which an individual self-administers treatment for a health condition.it encompasses the purchase of medication without prescription, administering medication based on the advice of the pharmacist, colleagues, friends, relatives and as well as consuming left over drugs stored at home or sharing medications with family members without a professional consultation.

Self-medication presents a greater problem in the developing countries such as Cameroon with a physician population ratio of 0.07 per 1.000 (Elvis, 2019).

1.1 Problem statement

Auto medication is the behaviour in which an individual uses a substance to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological aliments. The cause behind auto medication was the appearance of mild symptoms of disease. The cause of self-medication is because of transportation issues, easy asses to drugs, not taking the disease seriously, costly physician fees, unawearness (Mohammad, 2015).

1.1.1 Research Goal on Auto medication

– Assessing the knowledge of youths on the effect of Auto medication on their health

1.2 Research Questions

1.2.1 Main research question

-What do youths know on the effect of auto medication on their health

1.2.2 Specific research question

-What knowledge do youths in Great Soppo community have regarding the effects of auto medication.