Medication Handling and Storage among Pilgrims during the Hajj Mass Gathering

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Travel Medicine

Background:

• The Hajj is a large annual religious gathering with unique health challenges.
• Pilgrims often carry personal medications, necessitating safe storage and handling practices.
• Understanding pilgrims' knowledge and practices is crucial for preventing medication-related adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Hajj pilgrims' knowledge and practices concerning medication storage and handling.
• To identify factors associated with adequate medication knowledge and practices during the Hajj.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1221 adult Hajj pilgrims from 30 countries in 2019.
• Data collected via a structured questionnaire on medication storage, handling, and related health education.
• Statistical analysis to determine associations between demographics, education, health conditions, and knowledge levels.

Main Results:

• 68.2% of pilgrims demonstrated good knowledge of medication storage and its health implications.
• Higher education, underlying health conditions, and receiving health education were linked to better knowledge.
• Despite good overall knowledge, some pilgrims exhibited inadequate knowledge and poor practices.
• Medication storage and handling varied across different stages of the Hajj journey.

Conclusions:

• While many Hajj pilgrims possess good knowledge of medication storage, targeted interventions are needed for those with gaps.
• Enhancing pilgrims' awareness of appropriate medication storage and handling is vital for mitigating health risks during and after the Hajj.
• Future efforts should focus on tailored health education to improve medication safety among pilgrims.