Prevalencia de automedicación con antibióticos y factores asociados en la población del área urbana del cantón Cañar

Abstract

The rise of drug resistance due to self-medication represents a growing global threat. Self-medication is defined as the selection and use of drugs by individuals to treat diseases or symptoms that they themselves identify. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics and its associated factors in the population of the urban area of Canton Cañar. The research approach is quantitative, cross-sectional design and analytical level, carried out from January to May 2024. Data were collected through a personal survey of 421 participants, all signed an informed consent and none abandoned the study. The study revealed that the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in the urban population of the Cañar canton is 36.8%. The main factors associated with this practice include gender, ethnicity, educational level, and knowledge about the risks of self-medication. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the level of knowledge and the prevalence of self-medication (p=<0.001), as well as significant associations between knowledge and gender (p=0.023), ethnicity (p=0.020) and educational level. (p=0.047). Although the prevalence of self-medication is not high in this population, it is crucial to continue educating those who practice it and conduct more research to better understand this phenomenon. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.2.0. The prevalence of self-medication in Cañar is low, highlighting the need for continuing education.