Self medication for oral health problems in Cameroon

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Oral Health
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Self-medication is a prevalent practice globally, particularly for common ailments.
• In many low- and middle-income countries, access to healthcare services can be limited, driving self-treatment behaviors.
• Oral health problems are frequently managed through self-medication, with varying degrees of safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and patterns of self-medication for oral health problems in Cameroon.
• To identify demographic factors associated with self-medication behaviors.
• To understand the substances used, their sources, and the reasons behind self-medication practices.

Main Methods:

• A multi-regional cross-sectional survey was conducted in three Cameroonian towns: Bamenda, Yaounde, and Buea.
• A questionnaire collected data on demographics, oral health problems, self-medication substances, sources, duration, reasons, advice, and perceived effects.
• Data analysis focused on prevalence, associations with demographic variables, and descriptive statistics of self-medication patterns.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of self-medication for oral health problems was 67.8%, significantly associated with age, marital status, and location.
• Toothache was the most common oral health problem addressed through self-medication (54.7%).
• While most respondents used pharmaceutical products (64.5%), a notable minority (7.7%) used dangerous substances like petrol and vinegar, often guided by advice from relatives.

Conclusions:

• Self-medication for oral health problems is widespread in Cameroon, particularly among unmarried urban residents aged 21-30.
• The use of dangerous substances for self-treatment poses significant health risks.
• There is an urgent need for public awareness campaigns and interventions to promote safer oral healthcare practices.