Year: 2026 | Month: November | Volume: 16 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 1-11
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20261101
Self-Medication and Non-Prescription Antibiotic Use Among Adults in an Urban Community of Ajmer, Rajasthan: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Mahendra Kumar Kalal1, Mahendra Khanna2, Joshi Dhwani Pragneshkumar3, Ashok Kumar4, Yogesh Saini5
1,2,3,4,5Department of Community Medicine,
Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College Ajmer, RUHS Jaipur, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Mahendra Kumar Kalal
ABSTRACT
Background: Self Medication, Especially the use of Antibiotics without Prescription may contribute to adverse drug event and antimicrobial resistance. There is limited Community Based evidence from Rajasthan regarding the extent of self-medication and use of antibiotic without prescription.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of self-medication among adults in an urban community of Ajmer, to identify its independent associated factors, and to describe patterns of non-prescription antibiotic use (classified by the WHO AWaRe system), reasons and medicine-safety knowledge.
Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from May 2024 to April 2025 among 250 adults aged 18 years and above residing in Dholabhata Colony, Ajmer. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected by a pretested, interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Self-medication was defined as use of a medicine without prescription from a registered practitioner in the preceding six months. Associations were examined using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests and multivariable binary logistic regression (adjusted odds ratios, aOR, with 95% confidence intervals, CI).
Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 45.6% (114/250; 95% CI 39.4-51.8). In multivariable analysis, illiteracy (aOR 3.10, 95% CI 1.21-7.95) and business occupation (aOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.16-5.75) were independently associated with self-medication. Pharmacies without prescription were the main source of medicines (77.2%); fever (74.6%), cold/cough (64.0%) and headache (47.4%) were the commonest indications. Non-prescription antibiotics were used by 32 participants (12.8% of all participants; 28.1% of self-medicators). Of the 23 who could name the antibiotic, 16 (69.6%) had used a WHO ‘Watch’ antibiotic, mainly azithromycin, and 9 of 32 (28.1%) could not name it. Keeping leftover medicines at home was strongly associated with antibiotic use (aOR 3.61, 95% CI 1.51-8.61). Only 34.2%, 24.6% and 19.3% knew the correct dose, adverse effects and antibiotic course, respectively.
Conclusion: Nearly half of the adults in this urban community reported self-medication, with pharmacies being the main source of medicines. Antibiotic use without prescription was also reported, and Watch-group antibiotics accounted for a considerable proportion of the antibiotics that participants could name. The findings indicate a need for better community awareness, counselling by pharmacists and appropriate enforcement of prescription-only antibiotic dispensing.
Key words: Self-medication; Adults; Community-based study; Primary care; Antibiotic use; Rajasthan