76. Med Anthropol. 2010 Jan;29(1):71-107. doi: 10.1080/01459740903517386.

Popular medicine and self-care in a Mexican migrant community: toward an

explanation of an epidemiological paradox.

Waldstein A(1).

Author information:
(1)School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Marlowe Building,
Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK. A.Waldstein@kent.ac.uk

While Hispanics are among the most economically disadvantaged groups in the
United States, immigrants from Latin America have health profiles equal to or
better than Americans of European descent. Research on this epidemiological
paradox suggests that aspects of Hispanic culture prevent negative health
outcomes associated with poverty, poor education, and barriers to professional
care. However, little attention has been given to the ethnomedical beliefs and
practices of any Hispanic subgroup. Here I present an ethnographic study of
women's popular medicine in a Mexican migrant community in Athens, Georgia.
Migrant women promote healthy behaviors, diagnose sick family members, and
prescribe home remedies. These practices stem from long traditions of
self-medication and family care, which have experienced less disruption by the
biomedical profession than have other North American popular medical systems.
Examining Mexican popular medicine within the context of scientific literature
suggests that these self-care practices protect health and should be considered
by investigators of the "Hispanic health paradox." The study also suggests that

directing more attention to self-care will be fruitful for medical anthropology.

PMID: 20391159 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

79. Depress Anxiety. 2010 Aug;27(8):731-6. doi: 10.1002/da.20677.

The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress

disorder.

Leeies M(1), Pagura J, Sareen J, Bolton JM.

Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication has been proposed as an explanation for the high

rates of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance
use disorders; however, knowledge of self-medication in PTSD is scarce. We
describe the prevalence and correlates of self-medication in PTSD in the general
population.
METHODS: Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related
Conditions Wave 2 (N=34,653; response rate: 70.2%), a nationally representative
survey of mental illness in community-dwelling adults. Self-medication was
assessed separately for alcohol and drugs. Prevalence rates were determined for
self-medication among individuals with DSM-IV PTSD. Regression analyses
determined associations between self-medication and a variety of correlates,
including sociodemographic factors, comorbid mental disorders, suicide attempts,
and quality of life.

RESULTS: Approximately 20% of individuals with PTSD used substances in an attempt

to relieve their symptoms. Men were significantly more likely than women to
engage in self-medication behavior. In adjusted models, using illicit drugs or
misusing prescription medications to control PTSD symptoms was associated with a
substantially higher likelihood of dysthymia and borderline personality disorder.
After controlling for mental disorder comorbidity, self-medication was
independently associated with higher odds of suicide attempts (adjusted odds
ratio=2.46; 95% confidence interval 1.53-3.97) and lower mental health-related
quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Self-medication is a common behavior among people with PTSD in the
community, yet has potentially hazardous consequences. Health care practitioners
should assess reasons for substance use among people with PTSD to identify a
subgroup with higher psychiatric morbidity.

2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 20186981 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

81. Fam Pract. 2010 Jun;27(3):333-8. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmp105. Epub 2010 Jan 12.

Consumer habits and interests regarding non-prescription medications in Hungary.

Major C(1), Vincze Z.

Author information:
(1)Institute of Administration of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest,
Hungary. majorcsilla@invitel.hu

PURPOSE: Patients increasingly use over-the-counter medicines for self-treatment

but such products can be misused and/or abused. The primary aim of the present
study is to survey the relationship between pharmacists and self-medication, to
give an overview of their opinions on advertisements of non-prescription drugs
and to evaluate the knowledge of and familiarity with medicines held by
individuals purchasing them for self-treatment.
METHODS: A marketing research study of non-prescription drugs in multiple
pharmacies between March and July 2008 was conducted. A total of 2000
questionnaires were handed out, of which 1486 were evaluated. Statistical
analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0 software.
RESULTS: The majority of participants (72.5%) visited a community pharmacy at
least once per month. Half of the respondents reported taking medications
regularly. Forty per cent of those surveyed consult a qualified professional
about their decision before buying non-prescription medications. Forty-four per
cent of respondents reported asking pharmacists about the effects of
non-prescription medications.
CONCLUSION: This survey revealed that the general public has a high level of
awareness concerning the abuse potential of over-the-counter medicines. Health
care professionals should seek to understand and respect patients' choices to
assure optimal care. Pharmacists could be more proactive in the management of
inappropriate over-the-counter drug use.

PMID: 20067976 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

83. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2009 Jul-Sep;21(3):361-70.

Medication taking behavior of students attending a private university in

Bangladesh.

Chowdhury N(1), Matin F, Chowdhury SF.

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacy, Primeasia University, Banani, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
nischow@gmail.com

The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of self-reported

medication use, including both prescription and OTC drugs, and to assess the
possible predictors of self-medication and medication non-compliance
(non-adherence), for 929 non-medical undergraduate students of the American
International University, a private university situated in Dhaka city,
Bangladesh. Although a high proportion (69%, n = 644) of students of this
university had fallen sick in the last six months before the study, the rate of
visiting qualified health practitioners was much lower (53%). A good proportion
of the sick students were reported to have practiced self-medication (16%, n =
100) and medication non-adherence (15%, n = 98). The average treatment cost
involved in self medication was much lower than that offered by a qualified
physician (Tk 463 vs Tk 2546 per case). Those students living with parents were
more likely to have visited qualified health practitioners (56%, p < .05), and
students whose families kept a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home were more
likely to have completed the full course (39%, p < .05) of prescribed medicine.
No significant difference was found in the rates of self medication and
medication compliance incidence for variables like age groups, gender, residence
status, financial level, engagement in part-time jobs etc. The study also showed
that antimicrobials are widely available (170 incidents) in the home medicine
cabinets of the Dhaka City population. The storage of leftover antibiotics in the
home constitutes an alternative potential source of self-medication that can have

untoward consequences. Further elaborate studies are required to reveal the true
pattern of antibiotic usage in Bangladesh.

PMID: 20014639 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

90. Ann Pharmacother. 2009 Jun;43(6):1122-7. doi: 10.1345/aph.1L547. Epub 2009

May
26.

Health beliefs and over-the-counter product use.

Hussinger C(1), Ruhl UE, Hach I.

Author information:
(1)Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Goettingen,
Germany. chaeuss@uni-goettingen.de

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are often consulted as medical advisors. Given this case,
customers and pharmacists should interact in a trustful way (eg, in terms of
responding to customer's needs or recommending a different drug). Consideration
of the health beliefs of the customer could improve the interaction between
pharmacists and their clients and have a positive impact on medical adherence.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the health beliefs of pharmacy customers in Germany, the
impact of those beliefs on over-the-counter (OTC) medication use, and
associations with sociodemographic variables.
METHODS: By means of literature review and methodical surveys, a standardized

questionnaire was designed that contained 68 items concerning health beliefs,

habits of OTC product use, decision criteria that customers used when purchasing
drugs, and information about the sociodemographic background of the participants.
Main outcome measures were reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and correlations. A
random sample of 58 pharmacies in Saxony, Germany (10 questionnaires per
pharmacy), invited their customers to take part in our study.
RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three questionnaires (response rate 53.48%) were
completed and returned to us. The outcome suggests that there is a strong
association between health beliefs and frequency of use or the type of OTC drug
(eg, illness attributions: p < 0.05; preventive lifestyle: p < 0.05). There were
no significant associations between sociodemographic variables and chosen drugs.
CONCLUSIONS: Health beliefs, in terms of the general attitude toward health and
illness, illness attribution, prevention, and the attitude toward treatment
strategies, influence the kind of remedy (conventional vs complementary
medication) that consumers seek. These results may have implications for
consultations in pharmacies or for product marketing.

PMID: 19470857 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

91. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2009 Mar;41(1):19-26.

Mediating MDMA-related harm: preloading and post-loading among Ecstasy-using

youth.

Kelly BC(1).

Author information:
(1)Department of Sociology, Purdue University, 700 W State Street, West
Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. bckelly@purdue.edu

Ecstasy use remains a key concern for professionals working in fields related to
youth and drug use. At the forefront of these concerns are issues related to
neurological dysfunction and depression--both acute and long-term--associated
with MDMA use. Ecstasy users have been shown to assess Ecstasy related harms and
to engage in a variety of practices to manage these risks. To contend with risk
related to neurological dysfunction and depression, some youth have turned to
"preloading" and "post-loading": the practice of consuming other substances to
mitigate the negative effects of Ecstasy. Drawing upon data from an ethnographic
study of club drug use among youth, the author provides a descriptive profile of
the practices of preloading and post-loading as well as the motivations
underlying these behaviors among New York City area youth. Youth utilize a range
of preloading and post-loading practices, yet do not universally share similar
practices, attitudes, and knowledge. It is critical to link clinical and
behavioral sciences research to further study both the efficacy and safety of
these practices.

PMID: 19455906 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

92. Clin Rehabil. 2009 Aug;23(8):730-40. doi: 10.1177/0269215509102963. Epub 2009

May
15.

Integration of complementary medical treatments with rehabilitation from the

perspectives of patients and their caregivers: a qualitative inquiry.

Chang LH(1), Wang J.

Author information:

(1)School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: This article uses a qualitative design and examines how patients and
their caregivers integrate pluralistic health practices into rehabilitation from
their perspectives.
DESIGN: Ethnography was used as the framework for research design. Data were
collected via participant observation, taped in-depth interviews and regular
chart review, and all interviews were transcribed verbatim.
SETTING: An inpatient rehabilitation unit in Taiwan.
SUBJECTS: Twenty-one patients, their caregivers and their rehabilitation
professionals.
RESULTS: The patients and their caregivers used pluralistic illness explanations
and treatments to make sense of their suffering, to control healing and to find
the hope that rehabilitation professionals often deliberately avoided giving.
Spiritual healing and therapies related to Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as
functional food and herbal medicines, were popular alternative therapeutics.
Although the patients and their caregivers perceived opposition from the medical
staff on the unit, they used a variety of covert strategies to integrate their
pluralistic illness explanations and treatments into their daily routines without
openly challenging the rehabilitation primacy.
CONCLUSION: Aware of the rehabilitation staff's opposition, the patients and
caregivers resorted to a variety of underground strategies to conceal their use
of complementary medical treatments.

PMID: 19447842 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

94. BMC Pediatr. 2009 Feb 4;9:9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-9-9.

Self-medication for infants with colic in Lagos, Nigeria.

Oshikoya KA(1), Senbanjo IO, Njokanma OF.

Author information:
(1)Pharmacology Department, Lagos State University College of Medicine, P,M,B
21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. med_modhospital@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND: Infantile colic is a self-limiting condition that is distributed

worldwide. It is often misdiagnosed as an organic disease for which an infant is
admitted to the hospital. Many studies have described the aetiopathogenesis,
pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of colic but none has evaluated
self-medication for infants with colic. The aim of this study was therefore to
determine the knowledge of Nigerian mothers about colic, their home-based
management, extent of self-medication for the infants with colic and the types of
medicines involved.
METHODS: It is a prospective study conducted at the vaccination clinics of 20
primary health care centres, each from different Local Government Areas in Lagos,
Nigeria. Eight hundred mothers that brought their infants for vaccination between
April and September, 2006 were interviewed with open-and close-ended
questionnaire.
RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty three (85.4%) mothers claimed they had a good
knowledge of colic. Incessant and excessive cry was the main clinical feature of
colic identified by 430(62.9%) mothers. Three hundred and seventy eight (67.7%)
infants were treated by self-medication, 157 (28.1%) sought medical intervention
and 17 (3.1%) were treated at a traditional birth attendant home. Herbal
medicines constituted 51.8% of the self-medicated medicines, of which 48 (26.2%)
were "Ororo Ogiri". Nospamin (49.5%) and Gripe water (43.0%) were the two
frequently prescribed and self-medicated medicines for infants with colic.

CONCLUSION: Nigerian mothers are deficient in their knowledge of colic.

Self-medication was the most frequently used home-based intervention. Health
education would appear necessary to improve parental management of this
self-limiting condition.

PMCID: PMC2645392
PMID: 19193235 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

95. Gesundheitswesen. 2009 Feb;71(2):65-9. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1082311. Epub 2009

Jan
28.

[On the role of pharmacists in the care of patients with depressive

disorders--evaluation of a training programme for pharmacists].

[Article in German]

Norra C(1), Koch M.

Author information:
(1)LWL-Universittsklinik Bochum,
Psychiatrie-Psychotherapie-Psychosomatik-Prventivmedizin, Ruhr-Universitt
Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1, Bochum. Christine.Norra@rub.de

Depressive disorders are highly prevalent, under-diagnosed and under-treated,

causing high direct and socioeconomic costs. So far, the role of pharmacists in
counselling and supervision of patients with depression has hardly been
investigated. However, as pharmaceutical experts for doctor's prescriptions as
well as self-medication, they represent an important multiplicator group in

health care systems. The aim of nationwide seminars for pharmacists was to
improve attitudes and knowledge of the spectrum of depressive disorders. The
evaluation (n=102) which was performed within the seminars shows that personal
beliefs of pharmacists regarding depression depend on their own age and years of
professional experience. The study points out that specific training programmes
(e. g., communication techniques), especially in a subgroup of younger and less
experienced staff members in the pharmacy, may improve the care of depressive
individuals. This should--in close cooperation with general practitioners, mental
health specialists and health care systems--also substantially contribute to
enhance effectiveness of treatment of depressive disorders and to reduce
healthcare costs.

PMID: 19177324 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

96. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2009 May 7;6(3):281-8.

Knowledge, attitude and use of alternative medical therapy amongst urban

residents of Osun State, southwestern Nigeria.

Bamidele JO(1), Adebimpe WO, Oladele EA.

Author information:
(1)Department of Community Medicine, LAUTECH College of Health Sciences, Osogbo,
Osun State. Nigeria. bjobam2004@yahoo.co.uk

Alternate medicine which has a long history has been relegated to the background
by the evolution of modern medicine. In recent times, however, alternative
medical therapy has been growing in popularity and getting increasing attention
and interest. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and use by urban

dwellers of alternative medical therapies. This was a cross-sectional descriptive

study which used a semi-structured questionnaire to gather information from 812
randomly selected urban respondents. Majority 734 (90.4%) of the respondents were
aware of an alternative way of getting treatment for their ailments apart from
the orthodox medicine. The forms of alternative medical therapy (AMT) respondents
were aware of include: concoction (herbal preparations) 683 (94.2%);
herbalists/traditionalists 616 (85.0%); traditional bone setters therapy 434
(59.9%); among others. The main source of information was through radio 439
(70.9%). About half 403 (54.9%) of the respondents were aware of side effects
from AMT and these include diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting which accounts
for 69.7%; 42.2% and 40.2% respectively. About 347 (47.3%) think AMT could be
injurious to health. About a third 262 (35.7%) of the respondents who were aware
of AMT prefers it to orthodox medicine. Reasons given for the preference were
that: AMT is cheap 56 (21.4%); accessible 43 (16.4%) and acceptable 35 (13.4%) to
them. About half 367 (50.0%) also believed AMT alone could cure their illness
without resort to orthodox medical therapy (OMT). Over half 401 (54.6%) of the
734 respondents that were aware of AMT had patronized or taken one form of
alternative medical therapy or the other in the last 12 months prior to the
study. Of these number, 323 (80.5%) had taken concoction (herbal preparations).
However, there was no relationship between respondents' age, sex, educational
level or religion and the patronage of AMT as all test of associations were not
statistically significant p>0.05. This study has revealed that the use of
alternative medical therapies is quite popular among the studied population and a
high proportion of the respondents use AMT notwithstanding that they live in the
urban communities where they have better access to orthodox medical care and
medical practitioners. Regulations should be made concerning the advertisement of
alternative medicine and practices as orthodox medicine and practices are usually
not advertised.

PMCID: PMC2816455

PMID: 20448854 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

97. Complement Ther Med. 2008 Dec;16(6):343-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2007.12.002.

Epub
2008 Feb 7.

Self-therapy practices among university students in Palestine: focus on herbal

remedies.

Sawalha AF(1), Sweileh WM, Zyoud SH, Jabi SW.

Author information:
(1)Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), An-Najah National
University, Nablus, Palestine. ansam@najah.edu

BACKGROUND: Herbal self-therapy is a common practice among Palestinians. However,

no published data are available on herbal self-therapy in the Middle East in
general, and in Palestine in particular.
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to (1) determine the extent of herbal
self-therapy among university students, (2) investigate the different types of
herbal remedies used and (3) investigate the correlates and reasons associated
with such practices.
METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out using a
structured questionnaire that contained five sections: (1) demographics; (2)
medication knowledge and self-care orientation; (3) types of herbal remedies
used; (4) clinical conditions treated; and finally, (5) the reasons reported by
students for herbal self-therapy practice. Pearson chi(2), multiple logistic
regression and one-way ANOVA were performed using SPSS 13 program.
RESULTS: 33.9% of the respondents reported using herbal remedies in self-therapy.

Female gender, students at medical colleges and those with high self-care
orientation were significant predictive model for herbal use. Sage (Salvia
fruticosa L.), chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.),
and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) were the most commonly utilized herbal remedies.
The types of herbal remedies selected were significantly influenced by gender,
but not by the level of medication knowledge or self-care orientation. Herbal
remedies were used primarily for the treatment of headache, flu, menstrual pain
and sore throat. The main motivating factor for using herbal remedies reported
for using herbal remedies was simplicity of symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS: Herbal self-therapy was a common practice among university students.
Health care providers need to be aware of the students' self-therapy practices
and need to have sufficient knowledge regarding herbs not simply because of the
widespread use, but also because of significant reported side effects. Academics
need to consider offering courses about herbal remedies to students in both the
medical and non-medical faculties to broaden their treatment capabilities during
this time of increased unregulated medical interventions such as herbal therapy.

PMID: 19028335 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

98. Pharm World Sci. 2008 Dec;30(6):863-8. doi: 10.1007/s11096-008-9241-4. Epub

2008
Aug 20.

Analysis and quantification of self-medication patterns of customers in community

pharmacies in southern Chile.

Fuentes Albarrn K(1), Villa Zapata L.

Author information:

(1)Instituto de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile,

Campus Isla Teja, s/n, Valdivia, Chile.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication refers to using drugs which have not been prescribed,
recommended or controlled by a licensed health care specialist. Marketing, in
Chile only admitted for over-the-counter medications, influences the practice of
self-medication and extends it to prescription drugs. Thus, a complex
self-medication process is started, due to reuse of a previous prescription,
using drugs purchased directly at the pharmacy or drugs coming from family
first-aid kits. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of
self-medication, the type of medications involved, the dosages used, and the
reasons for this practice.
METHODS: An observation-based cross-sectional study was carried out at three
pharmacies belonging to a pharmacy chain in the city of Valdivia (southern
Chile). In addition, a previously validated form was used. Customers who
requested over-the-counter medications were surveyed to identify the patterns
that foster the self-medication practice.
RESULTS: Of 909 surveyed customers, 75% self-medicate. Of these, 31% stated that
they commonly self-medicate due to suffering from light symptoms, such as
headaches (19%), the common cold (8.8%), sore muscles (6.7%), and bone pains
(5.3%). The group of medications most requested in this study was nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (33%), with diclofenac sodium being the most
used (14%). Influence from other people did not exceed 20% and reusing prior
prescriptions reached 46%. There were significant differences when assessing
consumer knowledge, reading of information leaflets, and opinions about
self-medication at each surveyed pharmacy (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Most consumers at the surveyed pharmacies use medications without
proper knowledge of their benefits, treatment method, and duration. Drug
dispensing at community pharmacies should include active pharmacist involvement
to divulge the sensible use of drugs.

PMID: 18712489 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

99. Pharm World Sci. 2008 Dec;30(6):884-91. doi: 10.1007/s11096-008-9244-1. Epub

2008
Aug 6.

Societal perspectives on the role of community pharmacists and over-the-counter

drugs in Jordan.

Wazaify M(1), Al-Bsoul-Younes A, Abu-Gharbieh E, Tahaineh L.

Author information:
(1)University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. m.wazaify@ju.edu.jo

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the Jordanian population's

attitudes towards the role of community pharmacist and their use of and their
perceptions of OTC drugs.
SETTING: The interviews were carried out in four urban centers in Jordan with the
target sample being 1,000 members of the general public.
METHOD: This project used the survey methodology administered by structured
interviews to general public in four main urban centers in Jordan. The target
sample was 1,000. The questionnaire was divided into four sections that measured
the knowledge, attitude and practice of the Jordanian population regarding the
use of community pharmacy services and OTC drugs.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Perceptions on the professional role of the community
pharmacist and the use of OTC drugs as expressed by a sample of the general
public in Jordan.
RESULTS: A total of 1,085 members of the public were interviewed. Proximity to

home was the main reason to visit the same pharmacy (26.2%). More than half of
the interviewed sample (56.8%) stated that they would always follow the
directions on the packet of the OTC product. Males were more likely to increase
the dose of the preparation if it did not work within the recommended period of
time, while females were more likely to decrease the dose or stop the product (P
< 0.05). More than 60% of participants mentioned that they bought antimicrobials
from pharmacies without prescriptions. The majority of participants (62.7%)
reported that they would seek advice from a pharmacist when the condition was not
serious enough to visit the doctor.
CONCLUSIONS: The public in Jordan think highly of the pharmacy profession despite
their confusion and uncontrolled consumption of OTC drugs. The findings of this
study indicate that drug authorizing bodies in Jordan must be more proactive in
promoting appropriate self-medication use and improving pharmaceutical services.

PMID: 18683077 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

100. Pharm World Sci. 2008 Dec;30(6):794-800. doi: 10.1007/s11096-008-9227-2. Epub

2008 May 31.

The development of the Self-Medicating Scale (SMS): a scale to measure people's

beliefs about self-medication.

James DH(1), French DP.

Author information:
(1)Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward
VIIth Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF, UK. jamesdh@cf.ac.uk

OBJECTIVE: We describe the development of a reliable and valid measure of

people's beliefs about self-medication. To achieve this, student self-medication

beliefs and behaviours in response to acute pain were investigated. Specific
objectives were to establish the internal reliability plus content and construct
validity of this scale.
METHOD: The nine item 'Self-Medicating Scale (SMS)' was developed following one
to one interviews conducted with a purposive sample of 10 lay people in 2001 to
explore their self-medicating beliefs and behaviour. The SMS was completed by 304
undergraduate pharmacy students in March 2006, along with measures of
self-reported over the counter (OTC) analgesic use, pain severity and other
non-pharmacological methods of pain relief, using a cross-sectional design.
Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on SMS items using Maximum Likelihood
extraction and Varimax rotation.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Factor structure of the SMS and relationships between
SMS
scales and medication-taking behaviour.
RESULTS: Factor analysis of the SMS revealed three factor structures which were
named 'Reluctance', 'Don't think twice' and 'Run its course' (each three item
scales with good Cronbach's alpha 0.82, 0.77 and 0.75 respectively). Of the 304
respondents, 93% reported having experienced pain over the past month and nearly
three quarters of these indicated that they had self-medicated with OTC
analgesics (mean 10.8 doses). Statistically significant differences or
associations were found in all three SMS scores and each of the main outcome
variables i.e. whether or not analgesics were taken, number of doses of OTC
analgesics taken and number of non-pharmacological remedies tried.
CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the SMS possesses good internal reliability,
plus good content and construct validity indicating that it is a useful measure
of self-medication beliefs. More work is needed to extend these findings to the
wider general public and with other OTC medications.

PMID: 18516701 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

101. Int Q Community Health Educ. 2007-2008;28(3):229-38. doi: 10.2190/IQ.28.3.e.

Reproductive health knowledge, sexual partners, contraceptive use and motives for
premarital sex among female sub-urban Nigerian secondary students.

Moronkola OA(1), Fakeye JA.

Author information:
(1)Health Education Unit, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. walemoronkola@yahoo.com

Adolescents in sub-Saharan African countries constitute a large proportion of the

population. They are sexually active, engage in unsafe reproductive health
behavior with attendant consequences but lack appropriate reproductive health
education. In the Nigeria Nation Reproductive Health Strategy Framework and Plan,
the status of adolescents' reproductive health care is considered low. This study
assessed reproductive health knowledge, sexual partners, contraceptive use, and
motives for premarital sex among female sub-urban Nigerian secondary students.
The study was cross-sectional, involving 500 senior secondary 1 and 2 female
sub-urban students. The instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire.
Data were analyzed using SPSS. More than 70.0% of the respondents had knowledge
of all reproductive health items; male and female condoms were popular
contraceptives. At least 53.4% were sexually active and a majority (49.6%) had
boyfriends as sex partners. Peer pressure (31.6%) and fun/pleasure (29.2%) were
major motives for engaging in premarital sex. Majority (40.3%) terminated
pregnancies through self-medication. Though respondents had knowledge of
reproductive health, there is need to introduce health education (incorporating
reproductive health education) as a core subject in schools as well as provision

of youth-friendly health facilities.