The role of drug delivery systems in health care: the case of self- medication.

Up to 80 % of illness episodes are first defined, diagnosed and treated at the household-level. In the developing world especially, approximately half the population has no access to public health services. It is obvious then that other sources of care will be used. We examined the availability of proprietary drugs in communities, and the extent and reasons for their use in the treatment of childhood malaria on the Kenyan Coast. Retail outlets are extensively used as the first tier of health care for illnesses considered to be mild or mundane. However, the wide range, types and formulations of over-the- counter (OTC) drugs including antimalarials available in these retail outlets constitute a major health hazard. Yet, both users and proprietors of retail outlets know little or nothing about the drugs and thus use or sell them inappropriately. Even, children are treated promptly by purchase of OTC drugs. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.