K.A. Oshikoya
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Lagos State University College of
Medicine,
P.M.B. 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
O.F. Njokanma
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Lagos State University College of
Medicine,
P.M.B. 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
J.A. Bello
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Lagos State University College of
Medicine,
P.M.B. 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
E.O. Ayorinde
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Lagos State University College of
Medicine,
P.M.B. 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study is aimed at determining the prevalence in Nigeria of parental use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs to their infants, to identify the drugs involved and the determinants that promote the act amongst Nigerian mothers. A total of 736 mothers, selected from 20 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres during the immunization of their infants, were randomly selected and interviewed with a structured questionnaire filled by trained personnel and the researchers. 336 (45.65%) infants suffered one ailment or the other in the last one month their mothers were interviewed. One hundred and seventy six (52.38%) of these mothers sought medical intervention in the hospital for their infants` ailment. Antibiotics 343 (22.46%), vitamin supplements 259 (16.96%) and analgesics 152 (9.95%) were the most common group of non- prescribed drugs used by the infants. Ascorbic acid 472 (64.13%) and paracetamol 440 (59.78%) were the most commonly kept drugs at home by the mothers. There is a need for health education talk, particularly to discourage mothers from self-medication and to encourage them in seeking hospital based-care during their infants` ailments. Government should review the policies on public sales of prescribed drugs as non-prescribed drugs so as to ensure rational sale and use in infants.
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How to cite this article
K.A. Oshikoya, O.F. Njokanma, J.A. Bello and E.O. Ayorinde, 2008. The Use of Prescribed and Non-Prescribed Drugs in Infants in Lagos, Nigeria. Journal of Medical Sciences, 8: 111-117.
DOI: 10.3923/jms.2008.111.117
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jms.2008.111.117
DOI: 10.3923/jms.2008.111.117
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jms.2008.111.117
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