Makeri Danladi, Dilli Priscilla Peter, Pius Theophilus, Tijani Naheem Adekilekun, Opeyemi Abdullateef Afolabi, Lawan Kadai Alhaji, Jakheng Shango Patience Emmanuel, Muhwezi Reagan, Shabohurira Ambrose, Usman Ibe Michael, Agwu Ezera
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University-Western Campus, Ishaka, Uganda.
Department of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University-Western Campus, Ishaka, Uganda.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 17;25(1):197. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21380-9.
In Uganda, many people self-medicate and the practice raises important questions about access to healthcare, patient choices, and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in Uganda.
We searched Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases, WHO AFRO, UNIPH registries, and Google Scholar search engine from inception to November 2024 using the algorithm "Self-Medication" AND "Uganda". Twenty-two eligible studies were included while adhering to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA).
A total of 9113 participants were represented across different demographics and regions of Uganda. Our analysis revealed a 55.63% (95%CI [40.40; 70.66] pooled prevalence of self-medication in Uganda. Antibiotics are the commonly self-medicated drugs and ease of access to medications, perceived cost effectiveness, long hospital waiting time, home storage of drugs (leftovers), and perceptions of minor illnesses were key contributors to self-medication behaviour.
At least 1 in 2 Ugandans self-medicate and antibiotics constitute the dominant self-medicated drugs compounding the situation in an era of antimicrobial resistance. Awareness campaigns on the dangers of self-medication will be timely.
在乌干达，许多人自行用药，这种做法引发了关于医疗保健可及性、患者选择以及抗菌药物耐药性日益普遍的重要问题。这项系统评价和荟萃分析调查了乌干达自行用药的患病率及相关因素。
我们使用“自行用药”和“乌干达”这一算法，检索了从数据库创建至2024年11月的Scopus、PubMed和Embase数据库、世卫组织非洲区域办事处、乌干达国家卫生研究所登记处以及谷歌学术搜索引擎。在遵循系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）的同时，纳入了22项符合条件的研究。
乌干达不同人口统计学特征和地区的总共9113名参与者被纳入分析。我们的分析显示，乌干达自行用药的合并患病率为55.63%（95%置信区间[40.40；70.66]）。抗生素是最常被自行使用的药物，药物获取便捷、认为性价比高、医院候诊时间长、家中存有药物（剩余药品）以及认为疾病轻微是自行用药行为的主要促成因素。
至少每两名乌干达人中就有一人自行用药，在抗菌药物耐药性的时代背景下，抗生素成为主要的自行使用药物，使情况更加复杂。开展关于自行用药危害的宣传活动将恰逢其时。
