Abstract

Research Article

The practice of self-medication in children by their mothers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Olivier Mukuku*, Astrid Mukemo Katumbo, Thierry Sonny Tshiningi, Judith Sangwa Sinanduku, Loriot Kayinga Mudisu, Peggy Mulunda Mwadi, Oscar Numbi Luboya and Françoise Kaj Malonga

Published: 17 July, 2020 | Volume 3 - Issue 1 | Pages: 027-031

Self-medication is a common practice in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are few studies on mothers’ practice of self-medication in children in DRC. Trying to draw an inventory of this practice, we carried out a survey of self-medication of children under 12 years of age by their mothers (n = 392) in Lubumbashi, DRC. The main objective was to assess frequency of self-medication and the secondary purposes were to describe habits, dangerous behaviors and common mistakes. The results speak for themselves: 96% of the mothers self-medicate their children; 95.7% do not know the exact dosage of the drug used; 97.17% do not check the expiry date; over 91% of the mothers use antimalarials, 41.3% antipyretics/analgesics and 26.3% antibiotics. Healthcare practitioners should involve household members in focused awareness on self-medication and its negative implications in order to encourage them to serve as change agents against the practice by mothers.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.japch.1001014 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

Keywords:

Self-medication in children; Mothers’ self-medication; Pediatric self-medication; Medicine use in children

References

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  • The practice of self-medication in children by their mothers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
    Olivier Mukuku*, Astrid Mukemo Katumbo, Thierry Sonny Tshiningi, Judith Sangwa Sinanduku, Loriot Kayinga Mudisu, Peggy Mulunda Mwadi, Oscar Numbi Luboya and Françoise Kaj Malonga Olivier Mukuku*,Astrid Mukemo Katumbo,Thierry Sonny Tshiningi,Judith Sangwa Sinanduku,Loriot Kayinga Mudisu,Peggy Mulunda Mwadi,Oscar Numbi Luboya,Françoise Kaj Malonga. The practice of self-medication in children by their mothers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. . 2020 doi: 10.29328/journal.japch.1001014; 3: 027-031

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