In-home Drug Storage and Self-medication with Antimicrobial Drugs in Basrah, Iraq

To estimate the prevalence of self-medication with antimicrobial drugs and to record the stored medicine at home.

This is a descriptive study involving a questionnaire survey to determine the extent of drug storage and self-medication. A total of 300 household units in Basrah, Iraq were including in this study. A survey was conducted in 300 households in Basrah, southern Iraq to determine the availability, source, and storage conditions of medicinal drugs and the prevalence of self medication with antimicrobials.

The majority of households (94%) stored drugs at home. A total of 4279 of different types of drug preparations were encountered, the mean being 14.26 products/household. The results also showed that a minority of these drugs (31%) were rationally prescribed. Hence only 31% of the total drugs were for current use, while 45% were leftovers and 23% of the drugs were kept for future use. A large proportion of the stored drugs (66%) was obtained from private pharmacies. Only 42% of all the drugs were stored appropriately. Antibiotics, as a group was the most common drug stored and used at home (26%). The results indicated that the level of education has influence over dose compliance, storage of expired drugs and drugs exchange. Furthermore, a majority of the families (78%) admitted to practicing self-medication. The most common reasons for self-medication with antimicrobial drugs were associated with influenza, upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea and tonsillitis.

There are numerous indications of inappropriate storage, self- medication, poor compliance and use of drugs that have been kept beyond their expiry date in Basrah, Iraq.