Exploring the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Use of Unprescribed Drugs among Adults of a Selected City of Somaliland
Salman Mohamed Farah *
Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
A. B. M. Alauddin Chowdhury
Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Kamrul Hossain
Department of General Educational Development, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Masoud Mohammadnezhad
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Fiji National University, Fiji.
Russell Kabir
School of Allied Health, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The emergence and spread of resistance related to the irrational use of antibiotics is a major global public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards use of unprescribed drugs among adults in a selected city of Somaliland.
Methods: This study used cross-sectional survey and data was collected through semi-structured questionnaire. A purposive sampling of 400 individuals was obtained; Slovene’s Formula was used to calculate the sample size & Data was analysed by using SSPS v.20 and Ms Excel.
Results: It is found that 64.3% of the respondents used any form of medicine without a medical practitioner's prescription. It is found that there is a significant association between respondent's level of knowledge and practice of unprescribed drug use.
Conclusion: The conclusion is that it is important to formulate policies and strategies for drug distribution and sales aimed for controlling the public use of unprescribed drugs.
Keywords: Knowledge, attitude and practice, antibiotics, unprescribed drugs, adults, Somaliland