A Study on Self-Medication Among Adult Living in Vingunguti Ilala in Dar Es Salaam

Globally, self-medication (SM) is a significant public health issue. This study aims to evaluate self-medication practices among individuals in Vingunguti, Dar es Salaam, assess their knowledge, and uncover predictive variables of potentially inappropriate drug use. The predominant symptoms justifying self-medication pertained to Headaches, fevers, and stomach discomfort prompted 57% of participants to select self-medication; sore throats, coughs, and flu symptoms affected 25% of participants, while 15% chose self-medication owing to vomiting and diarrhoea, and 3% self-medicated for other symptoms. The results reveal that 78% of participants were unaware to the medicines they were consuming, whereas 22% were aware of the drugs. Our study indicates a significant prevalence of self-medication, approximately 78%, among people residing in Vigunguti Ilala, Dar es Salaam. Key words: self-medication, non-prescription medicines, drugs