The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background In Uganda, many people self-medicate and the practice raises important questions about access to healthcare, patient choices, and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and factors associated wit...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21380-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832594360890294272 |
|---|---|
| author | Danladi Makeri Priscilla Peter Dilli Theophilus Pius Naheem Adekilekun Tijani Abdullateef Afolabi Opeyemi Kadai Alhaji Lawan Shango Patience Emmanuel Jakheng Reagan Muhwezi Ambrose Shabohurira Ibe Michael Usman Ezera Agwu |
| author_facet | Danladi Makeri Priscilla Peter Dilli Theophilus Pius Naheem Adekilekun Tijani Abdullateef Afolabi Opeyemi Kadai Alhaji Lawan Shango Patience Emmanuel Jakheng Reagan Muhwezi Ambrose Shabohurira Ibe Michael Usman Ezera Agwu |
| author_sort | Danladi Makeri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Uganda, many people self-medicate and the practice raises important questions about access to healthcare, patient choices, and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in Uganda. Methods We searched Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases, WHO AFRO, UNIPH registries, and Google Scholar search engine from inception to November 2024 using the algorithm “Self-Medication” AND “Uganda”. Twenty-two eligible studies were included while adhering to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). Results A total of 9113 participants were represented across different demographics and regions of Uganda. Our analysis revealed a 55.63% (95%CI [40.40; 70.66] pooled prevalence of self-medication in Uganda. Antibiotics are the commonly self-medicated drugs and ease of access to medications, perceived cost effectiveness, long hospital waiting time, home storage of drugs (leftovers), and perceptions of minor illnesses were key contributors to self-medication behaviour. Conclusion At least 1 in 2 Ugandans self-medicate and antibiotics constitute the dominant self-medicated drugs compounding the situation in an era of antimicrobial resistance. Awareness campaigns on the dangers of self-medication will be timely. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4f145eaba554e029062cb1beaca88dc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4f145eaba554e029062cb1beaca88dc2025-01-19T12:42:18ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-21380-9The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysisDanladi Makeri0Priscilla Peter Dilli1Theophilus Pius2Naheem Adekilekun Tijani3Abdullateef Afolabi Opeyemi4Kadai Alhaji Lawan5Shango Patience Emmanuel Jakheng6Reagan Muhwezi7Ambrose Shabohurira8Ibe Michael Usman9Ezera Agwu10Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western CampusAbstract Background In Uganda, many people self-medicate and the practice raises important questions about access to healthcare, patient choices, and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in Uganda. Methods We searched Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases, WHO AFRO, UNIPH registries, and Google Scholar search engine from inception to November 2024 using the algorithm “Self-Medication” AND “Uganda”. Twenty-two eligible studies were included while adhering to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). Results A total of 9113 participants were represented across different demographics and regions of Uganda. Our analysis revealed a 55.63% (95%CI [40.40; 70.66] pooled prevalence of self-medication in Uganda. Antibiotics are the commonly self-medicated drugs and ease of access to medications, perceived cost effectiveness, long hospital waiting time, home storage of drugs (leftovers), and perceptions of minor illnesses were key contributors to self-medication behaviour. Conclusion At least 1 in 2 Ugandans self-medicate and antibiotics constitute the dominant self-medicated drugs compounding the situation in an era of antimicrobial resistance. Awareness campaigns on the dangers of self-medication will be timely.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21380-9Self MedicationSelfcareSelf prescriptionNon-prescription medicationAntimicrobial resistance |
| spellingShingle | Danladi Makeri Priscilla Peter Dilli Theophilus Pius Naheem Adekilekun Tijani Abdullateef Afolabi Opeyemi Kadai Alhaji Lawan Shango Patience Emmanuel Jakheng Reagan Muhwezi Ambrose Shabohurira Ibe Michael Usman Ezera Agwu The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Public Health Self Medication Selfcare Self prescription Non-prescription medication Antimicrobial resistance |
| title | The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | nature of self medication in uganda a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Self Medication Selfcare Self prescription Non-prescription medication Antimicrobial resistance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21380-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danladimakeri thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT priscillapeterdilli thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT theophiluspius thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT naheemadekilekuntijani thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT abdullateefafolabiopeyemi thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT kadaialhajilawan thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT shangopatienceemmanueljakheng thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT reaganmuhwezi thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT ambroseshabohurira thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT ibemichaelusman thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT ezeraagwu thenatureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT danladimakeri natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT priscillapeterdilli natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT theophiluspius natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT naheemadekilekuntijani natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT abdullateefafolabiopeyemi natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT kadaialhajilawan natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT shangopatienceemmanueljakheng natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT reaganmuhwezi natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT ambroseshabohurira natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT ibemichaelusman natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT ezeraagwu natureofselfmedicationinugandaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis |