Family dysfunction and self-medication for acute febrile illness

Abstract

Background: Fever is a common complain from patients globally. Self medication for acute febrile illness is also a common practice but often with severe consequences. The family influences the health of the individuals and hence the community in several ways. Family function has major influence on decisons made at home including health seeking behaviour. Objectives: This study set out to determine the relationship between family function and self medication for acute febrile illness in a primary care setting in Jos, in order to proffer solutions to irresponsible and dangerous practices. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study at the GOPD of Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH), Jos from October 2012 to February 2013. The study population comprised all patients who presented at the study site with fever or history of fever of not more than two weeks duration and who met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected with interviewer-administered structured questionaire and analysed with the Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS), version 21. Results: The study revealed a high level of self medication (85.0%) in the study population. Most (92.5%) of the participants were from highly functional families. There was a statistically significant relationship between family dysfunction and self medication for acute febrile illness. Conclusion: There is a high level of self medication among the study population. Although highly functional families were in the majority, family dysfunction was significantly related to self medication.