Self-medication in adults during the Chikungunya epidemic in Paraguay in 2023

Abstract

Introduction. Self-medication is defined as taking medication on one's own initiative and without a prescription. Objective. To determine the frequency of self-medication in adults during the chikungunya outbreak attending 2 referral hospitals in the Central Department in the year 2023. Materials and Methods. Cross-sectional descriptive observational study in adults during the chikungunya outbreak, using a questionnaire consisting of two parts, the first on sociodemographic variables, and the second on whether they suffered from chikungunya and variables related to the consumption of medicines without medical prescription, medicines consumed, characteristics of self-medication and adverse reactions. Results. Of the 109 subjects studied, 63,39% were female, the predominant age range was 18 to 37 years with 60,55%, 69,72% with a university education. 56,52% were office workers. A total of 74,31% reported having suffered from chikungunya, of which 56,79% had self-medicated.  In 43,89% of these patients suffered from intense joint pain associated with swelling. 76,08% self-medicated with NSAIDs. The 30,43% indicated lack of time to go to the doctor as the reason. A combination of conventional and traditional drugs was found in 47,82%, 91% obtained it without prescription and 89% had obtained it at the pharmacy. Some 50% self-medicated more than once a day. Conclusion. the frequency of self-medication was high, predominantly the intake of NSAIDs related to joint pain associated with swelling, with pharmacies being the place where the drugs were obtained.