The prevalence of medications uses without a prescription in Al-Najaf province

Abstract

Objective: The study aim to identify the extent of spread the phenomenon of widespread use of medicines without a prescription.

Methodology: This study surveys was conducted on (204) persons in the province of Najaf. (Sadr Medical City, Al-Hakim General hospital, Hospital of Middle Euphrates and Al-Zahra teaching Hospital). in (31 \ 4 \ 2012) to (1 \ 11 \ 2012) The total sample of study was 204 persons Where 102 ( 50% ) were males, especially young people, and 102 (50%) was females.

Results:` 136 (66%) of the study samples are in the levels of education (primary schools (42), secondary schools (46), Tertiary schools (48), Technical Diploma (16), BSc (28) and illiterate (24). On the basis of geographic distribution, the results showed that (178) 87.3% were in residents of cities and (28) 12.7% was from the rural population. Depending on the basis of the using of prescription medicines or over-the-counter, drugs we found there were (134) 65.7% of the study sample used medicines without prescription, (70) 34.3% using medicines by prescription. 80 (59.7%) using correct dose, (72) 53.7% reading the pharmaceutical letter, (80) 59.7% ask about the complications result of medicines. When we investigate the types of medicines which be used without a prescription, the results of this study showed that there are 95 (70.9%) of the study sample was using antibiotics, (13) 9.7% using sexual activator and (26) 39.4% of women using contraceptives . When we asked about the reasons for the spread of this phenomenon. The results showed that (86) 42.2% laying blame on Ministry of Health, (79) 38.7% related to ignorance of the community and ( 39) 19% laying blame on public information circles responsibility in confronting of this phenomenon.

Conclusion: The results showed that the phenomenon of using medicines without a prescription is a common in society of al-Najaf province.

Recommendations: The formation of local committees that included physicians, pharmacists and health personnel, and concocting the training programs to them to teach them how to monitor and improve the use of medicines at all levels in the health system to work periodically in raising awareness about the risks from the indiscriminate use of drugs, especially drugs antibiotics.