Author(s)

Cossi Angelo Attinsounon^1,2*, Yollande Sissinto³, Euripide Avokpaho³, Adébayo Alassani², Majid Sanni¹, Marcel Zannou⁴

¹Faculty of Medicine, CHUD-Borgou, Teaching and Research Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Parakou, Parakou, Bénin.
²University of Parakou, CHUD-Borgou, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Parakou, Bénin.
³University of Abomey Calavi, CNHU-HKM, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Cotonou, Bénin.
⁴University of Abomey Calavi, CNHU-HKM, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Cotonou, Bénin.

Introduction: Self-medication is a common practice in Benin. It has many consequences on people’s health in general and develops chemoresistance in particular. Aim: The aim of this work is to study the practice of anti-malarial self-medication in the city of Parakou and to identify the associated factors with this practice. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional analytical survey that took place in the period from April 15 to June 24, 2017. Adults who reported having had malaria symptoms in the last 6 months before the survey and living in 9 neighbourhoods randomly selected in the city of Parakou were included. A structured questionnaire collected their self-medication habit, the drugs used, the supply places and the reasons for this practice. Data were analysed using the Epi-data 3.1 software. Results: Of the 335 respondents included in this study, 141 (42.09%) had self-medicated including 130 (38.81%) with anti-malarial drugs. Fever is the main symptom of malaria cited by respondents (129% or 38.51%) followed by headache (93% or 27.76%). The most commonly used anti-malarial drugs for self-medication are quinine (60% or 44.45%) followed by artemisinin-based combination therapy (46% or 34.07%). Eighty-seven respondents (66.92%) did not have a good knowledge of the drug dosage. Reasons for self-medication were mainly the high cost of consultation fees (99% or 54.10%) and good knowledge of one’s illness (53% or 28.96%). Self-medication associated factors were fever (p = 0.04), non-prescription drugs supply in pharmacies (p < 0.01), drugs supply in the informal market (p < 0.01), previous satisfactory use of the drug (p < 0.01), drug cost availability (p = 0.03) and drug recommendation by a relative or friend (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Self-medication is a common practice in the city of Parakou. Medicines purchased without prescription in pharmacies and drugs availability in street facilitate this practice, which may compromise the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs.

Self-Medication, Anti-Malarial Drugs, Urban Setting, Parakou, Benin

Attinsounon, C. , Sissinto, Y. , Avokpaho, E. , Alassani, A. , Sanni, M. and Zannou, M. (2019) Self-Medication Practice against Malaria and Associated Factors in the City of Parakou in Northern Benin: Results of a Population Survey in 2017. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 9, 263-275. doi: 10.4236/aid.2019.93020.