Self-medication in urban and marginal urban areas of Trujillo according to socioeconomic factors

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the main risk factors for the consumption of drugs without prescription in the adult population in marginal urban and urban areas of the province of Trujillo, with particular attention to the existence of differential patterns of self-medication by social economic factors. To explain the self-medication is used a prospective method, transverse, analytic, comparative using as control variables as socioeconomic factors. The data come from the sample of adults in a survey of the adult population of the town center and Clinic Sánchez Ferrer including 142 people for each group. Data from 284 patients from two layers, both marginal urban areas and urban areas were obtained. The predominant age group was 35-44 years in both groups (p = 0.7667). There was no group difference in gender (p = 0.31581). The predominant educational level in marginal urban area was primary (55.63%), while in urban areas was higher (50%). Sickness days predominance of 1-2 days in both areas. Income quintile in both areas varied significantly (p = 0.0071). The main risk factors for self-medication in the marginal urban zone and the marginal zone correspond to the educational level, sick leave, income quintile.