scholarly journals Self Medication, Drug Dependency and Self-Managed Health Care - A Review

Author(s):  
A. O.
Author(s):  
Patrick T. Adegun ◽  
Eyitope O. Amu

Abstract Background: In Nigeria, adolescents are highly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which have the potential of jeopardising their future reproductive lives if poorly treated. Objective: To determine the prevalence and health care seeking behaviour for STIs among secondary school adolescents in Ado, South-Western Nigeria. Subjects: Male and female adolescents aged 10–19 years. Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A pre-tested, self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 560 adolescents selected from public and private secondary schools in Ado Local Government Area (LGA) of Ekiti State, using a multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Analyzed data were presented in the form of tables and charts. Results: Two hundred and fifty-one (47.1%) respondents had previous symptoms of STIs. The commonest symptoms among the males were penile discharge (30.5%), painful micturition (30.5%) and stomach pain with swollen testes (25.4%). The commonest symptoms among the females were genital itching (27.6%), genital sores (14.1%) and painful micturition (13.1%). Only 26.7% sought treatment from a health facility; 37.0% did nothing; 15.9% went to patent medicine stores, 10.0% used herbs; the rest did self-medication or prayed. Conclusion: The prevalence of STI symptoms among adolescents in Ado-Ekiti is high but their health care seeking behaviour is poor. Health education about the dangers of untreated STI and the importance of seeking treatment early, targeted at adolescents, should be intensified.


1997 ◽  
Vol 23 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 251-289
Author(s):  
Margaret G. Farrell

The result ERISA compels us to reach means that the Corcorans [who lost their unborn child allegedly as a result of United Healthcare’s negligent determination that hospitalization was not medically necessary] have no remedy, state or federal, for what may have been a serious mistake. This is troubling....In the words of its sponsor, Senator Jacob Javits, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was enacted in 1974 “to maintain the voluntary growth of private [pension and employee benefit] plans while at the same time making needed structural reforms in such areas as vesting, funding, termination, etc. so as to safeguard workers against loss of their earned or anticipated benefits....” Ironically, one of ERISA’s provisions—its indeterminate provision for the preemption of state law—has probably created more uncertainty about the adequacy and security of health care benefits than any other piece of legislation. Neither ERISA nor any other federal statute comprehensively regulates the content of employer provided health care plans, including benefits provided through managed care organizations (MCOs).


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Getasew Mulat Bantie ◽  
Zemene Meseret ◽  
Melkamu Bedimo ◽  
Abebayehu Bitew

Abstract Background Globally pneumonia is the leading cause of under-five child mortality. Several risk factors for pneumonia mortality have been identified, including delay in seeking health care. For successful reduction of delay in seeking healthcare, further evidence is crucial on its magnitude and factors associated with it in the country particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and root causes of delay in seeking health care among mothers of under-five children with pneumonia in hospitals of the Bahir Dar city, 2019. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 15 to May 15, 2019 among 356 mothers of under-five children with pneumonia in hospitals of the Bahir Dar city. The study participants were selected by using a stratified sampling technique and data was collected through face to face interview. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of delay in seeking healthcare. The P - value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Associations between outcome and exposure variables were expressed by the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 356 mothers participated in the study yielded a response of 89.4%. The proportion of delay in seeking health care was 48.6%. Rural residence (AOR = 2. 3, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.9, seek healthcare in a governmental hospital (AOR = 3. 3, 95% CI: 1.8, 6.1), health care decision by mothers (AOR = 2. 9, 95% CI: 1.6, 5.4), poorest household (AOR = 2. 8, 95% CI: 1.1, 7.2), using self-medication (AOR = 7. 5, 95% CI: 3.8, 14.7), using traditional medicine before healthcare-seeking (AOR = 2. 7, 95% CI: 1.4, 5.1), and no information about early healthcare-seeking for childhood pneumonia treatment (AOR = 5. 1, 95% CI: 2.8, 9.1) were the identified determinants significantly associated with delay in seeking healthcare among mothers of under-five children with pneumonia. Conclusion This study showed that nearly half of the mothers delayed in seeking healthcare. Rural residence, healthcare seeking at government hospitals, healthcare decision by mothers, poorest household, using self-medication, using traditional medicine before health care seeking, and lack of information about early healthcare-seeking were factors associated with a delay in seeking healthcare for under-five children with pneumonia. Hence, the government and other concerned stakeholders should give due emphasis to tackle on the identified causes of delay in seeking health care for the under five children with pneumonia.


1992 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Bruzek ◽  
Debra Dullinger

Drug formularies have migrated from the inpatient hospital environment to the ambulatory outpatient setting. Although formularies in use by managed health care organizations may vary widely in their design, they have quickly become the cornerstone of the managed pharmacy benefit. A carefully designed formulary can direct drug use to the safest and most efficacious products that may ultimately lower total drug costs. Other managed health care drug formulary considerations are presented. A method is described to develop a drug formulary. The drug evaluation matrix (DEM) provides a systematic, reproducible drug selection process based on efficacy, safety, and cost. DEM allows the user to assign different weights to these factors during the drug evaluation process. The product of DEM is a drug formulary that is therapeutically complete, consistent with accepted medical practice and maximizes cost efficiencies achievable from a drug formulary.


1992 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-71
Author(s):  
William A. Hemberger

Health care delivery and benefits in the United States are changing. This article provides a basic description of the present-day components, managed care constructs, and impact of medical/hospital program/ benefit designs on pharmacy programs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dândara Nayara Azevêdo Dantas ◽  
Bertha Cruz Enders ◽  
Déborah Raquel Carvalho de Oliveira ◽  
Caroline Evelin Nascimento Kluczynic Vieira ◽  
Ana Angélica Rêgo de Queiroz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify social, clinical and behavioral factors of tuberculosis patients that are associated with delay in the search for primary health care. Method: This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted with 56 people on treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in the city of Natal, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The data were collected through a structured instrument. The Chi-square and Fisher tests were applied to test the association between independent and dependent variables (search time). A value of p <0.05 was set as statistically significant. Results: No social or clinical variables were statistically associated with patient delays in the search for primary health care. Among the behavioral variables, self-medication and the first health service sought had a statistically significant association with the time for seeking care (p = 0.020, and p = 0.033, respectively). Conclusion: Self-medication contributes to the delay in the search for primary health care by tuberculosis patients.


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