Prevalence of self-medication in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Richmond Opoku; Bismark Dwumfour-Asare; Lawrencia Agrey-Bluwey; Nana Esi Appiah; Michael Ackah; Francis Acquah; Priscilla Fordjour Asenso; Abdul-Aziz Issaka

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064627

Prevalence of self-medication in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open. 2023 Mar 24;13(3):e064627. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064627.

Authors

Richmond Opoku¹, Bismark Dwumfour-Asare², Lawrencia Agrey-Bluwey³, Nana Esi Appiah^{4

5}, Michael Ackah⁶, Francis Acquah³, Priscilla Fordjour Asenso⁶, Abdul-Aziz Issaka⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK richmondopokuezra@gmail.com.
² Department of Environmental Health & Sanitation Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong, Ashanti, Ghana.
³ Department of Health Administration & Education, University of Education Winneba Faculty of Science Education, Winneba, Central, Ghana.
⁴ School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
⁵ Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana.
⁶ Department of Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong, Ashanti, Ghana.

Abstract

Objectives: This study estimates the prevalence of self-medication and provides an understanding of the reasons for self-medication in Ghana through the synthesis of relevant literature.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Science Direct and African Journals Online to identify observational studies published from inception to March 2022. Google scholar and institutional websites were searched for grey literature. We included studies reporting primary data on the prevalence and/or reasons for self-medication in Ghana. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of self-medication. Subgroup analysis was performed with the study population (pregnant women, patients and students), geopolitical zone (coastal, middle and northern) and study setting (rural and urban). Using inductive thematic analysis, reasons for self-medication were classified and tallied under key themes.

Results: Thirty studies involving 9271 participants were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of self-medication in Ghana was 53.7% (95% CI 46.2% to 61.0%; I²=98.51%, p<0.001). Prevalence of self-medication was highest among pregnant women (65.5%; 95% CI 58.1% to 72.5%; I²=88%), in the middle belt of the country (62.1%; 95% CI 40.9% to 82.0%; I²=98%; p<0.001) and in rural settings (61.2%; 95% CI 36.5% to 84.5%; I²=98%; p<0.001). The most cited reasons for self-medication included long waiting time at health facilities (73.3%), previous use of drugs (66.7%) and the perceived unseriousness of diseases (53.3%).

Conclusion: This study has revealed that self-medication is still an unresolved public health challenge in Ghana, with a high prevalence estimate. Self-medication is influenced by inconveniences associated with accessing healthcare coupled with poor health seeking behaviours. There is the need for improved access to quality healthcare and the promotion of appropriate health-seeking behaviours.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Health policy; Public health.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Female
Ghana / epidemiology
Health Behavior*
Humans
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Rural Population
Self Medication*