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Table 3 Characteristics of self-medication in two Guatemala City pharmacies

From: Comparing antibiotic self-medication in two socio-economic groups in Guatemala City: a descriptive cross-sectional study

 

Number of respondents in Suburb (n = 221)

Number of respondents in City Center (n = 197)

Symptoms resulting in self-medication +

  

Cold/flu

74 (33%)

65 (33%)

Pain

66 (30%)

54 (27%)

Fever

39 (18%)

41 (21%)

Stomach ache

22 (10%)

26 (13%)

Diarrhea

10 (5%)

5 (3%)

Allergy

10 (4%)

6 (3%)

Reasons for self-medicating +

  

Lack of time and to save time

84 (38%)*

110 (56%)*

Easily purchasable medications from pharmacies

60 (27%)

34 (17%)

Economic reasons (High costs of visits to doctor/Low cost of purchasing drugs)

34 (15%)

29 (15%)

Simple sign and symptom of a disease

20 (9%)

18 (9%)

Convenient (ease of curing perceived symptoms)

18 (8%)

3 (2%)

Lack of trust toward doctors

4 (2%)

3 (2%)

Locations for obtaining medications +

  

Pharmacies

172 (77%)

139 (70%)

Supermarket

20 (9%)*

0 (0%)*

Corner stores

19 (8%)*

58 (29%)*

From home (previously purchased)

9 (4%)*

0*

Frequency of self-medication

  

One time per week

42(19%)*

65(33%)*

One time per month

77(35%)*

12(6%)*

Two times per month

1(0.5%)

6(3%)

Every two months

1(0.5%)

2(1%)

Every three months

5(2%)

8(4%)

Every six months

16(7%)

21(11%)

Two times per year

2(1%)

0

One time per year

66(30%)

67(34%)

Never

11(5%)

16 (8%)

Regarding the antibiotic information handout

  

Do not read antibiotic information handout

176 (80%)*

188 (95%)*

Read antibiotic information handout

45 (20%)*

9 (5%)*

How it can effect one's health, 1 negative effect 10 positive effect

  

1 on a scale of 10

0 (0%)*

0 (0%)*

2-4 on a scale of 10

37 (17%)

24 (12%)

5 on a scale of 10

45 (20%)

35 (18%)

6 on a scale of 10

67 (30%)

40 (20%)

7 on a scale of 10

42 (19%)

46 (23%)

8-10 on a scale of 10

30 (14%)

44 (22%)

Who respondents go to for advice

  

Pharmacy employee

84 (38%)*

8 (4%)*

Family

81 (37%)*

129 (65%)*

Friend

52 (23%)

60 (30%)

Other

4 (2%)

0 (0%)

  1. *Significant difference between suburb and city center pharmacies, p < 0.01.
  2. +Multiple responses were allowed for these items.