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Practices on over the counter medication among mothers of under five aged children attending child OPD at friends of shanta bhawan, Boudha, Kathmandu
ABSTRACT: Background: Over the counter medicines are drugs that are brought without a medical prescription. The use of many OTC medicines in children is usually initiated by parents. Self medication in developing countries from a biological point of view point the risks that are involved in developing countries are reportedly higher than in industrialized countries. This can be related to the fact that in many developing countries drugs are available over the counter. In a study conducted in Pokhara, western Nepal found that 59% had taken self medication including OTC medicines. Objective: To assess the practices on OTC drug among mothers of under five aged children Methods: The descriptive cross sectional was conducted. All the mothers of under five aged children visiting the Friends of Shanta Bhawan at the child OPD and had taken OTC medicines during last 6 months for child and wished to participate in the study were included using non probability purposive sampling technique during four weeks of data collection. The data was collected from 100 sample using face to face interview technique guided by semi structured questionnaire descriptive analysis , mean , median, frequency, percentage, standard deviation was calculated according to the objectives. Results: Most of the respondents took OTC for fever (92%), 75% took for cough and cold , 65% used OTC medicines because the pharmacy is near from their homes and 48% reasoned as OTC medications are easy to do as compared to visit to doctor's or hospital. Conclusion: This study concluded that mothers used OTC for the common problems of their children because OTC medications are easy to do, time saving and services provided in hospitals are delayed.