Health science reports · 2024
Self-medication for dental caries-associated toothache among dental outpatients attended at public health facilities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A cross-sectional study.
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Sohal Karpal Singh, Jeremiah Linus, Okechi Uchenna, Agbor Ashu Michael
Аннотация
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Self-medication is a common practice worldwide, and its prevalence ranges between 20% and 80% among patients suffering from dental pain. The socioeconomic status of an individual plays a key role in self-medication practice, especially sex and education level. This study aims to investigate the extent of self-medication practice for toothache due to dental caries among adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out over 6 months. It included adult patients presenting with toothache in public dental clinics. A questionnaire captured information on demography, self-medication practice, the substance used for self-medication, duration of self-medication, and reason for self-medication. Univariate analysis was carried out to assess factors associated with self-care remedies. The probability level of α < 0.05 was selected for statistical significance.
RESULTS: A total of 420 participants took part in this survey with a majority (54.3%) being females. The ages of the participants ranged between 18 years and 79 years, with a mean age of 33.37 (SD = 12.64) years. Nearly all (98.5%) participants used some sort of self-prescribed remedies for managing toothache before attending a dental clinic for appropriate treatment. The sociodemographic status of the participants did not influence the practice of self-medication.
CONCLUSION: About 98% of patients suffering from toothache in Tanzania practice self-medication, and it cuts across all social strata of the adult dental population.
PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients with toothache secondary to dental caries participated in the pilot study and were consulted on the suitability of the study tool.
METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out over 6 months. It included adult patients presenting with toothache in public dental clinics. A questionnaire captured information on demography, self-medication practice, the substance used for self-medication, duration of self-medication, and reason for self-medication. Univariate analysis was carried out to assess factors associated with self-care remedies. The probability level of α < 0.05 was selected for statistical significance.
RESULTS: A total of 420 participants took part in this survey with a majority (54.3%) being females. The ages of the participants ranged between 18 years and 79 years, with a mean age of 33.37 (SD = 12.64) years. Nearly all (98.5%) participants used some sort of self-prescribed remedies for managing toothache before attending a dental clinic for appropriate treatment. The sociodemographic status of the participants did not influence the practice of self-medication.
CONCLUSION: About 98% of patients suffering from toothache in Tanzania practice self-medication, and it cuts across all social strata of the adult dental population.
PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients with toothache secondary to dental caries participated in the pilot study and were consulted on the suitability of the study tool.