BACKGROUND: Little is known about rates of illness, illness management, or drug
utilization in developing countries.
OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns of illness and drug utilization in urban and rural
households in Nigeria.
METHODS: A survey was developed and validated for data collection. A random
sample from some communities in Owan East Local Government Area (LGA) of
Edo State, Nigeria, was selected, based on a national population survey, using
both the supervisory and enumeration areas of the LGA. We determined the
sample size using methods described by Cochran, including 5% precision, 5% a,
and allowing for 5% data error. Respondents were queried in face-to-face
interviews about illnesses in their households during the previous 2 weeks;
demographic information; how they were treated; and where they sought
treatment, advice, and medicines. As well, we determined how they kept families
well. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data.
RESULTS: Out of 549 persons, 497 completed the questionnaires, giving a
response rate of 90.5%. Of these respondents, 395 (79.5%) reported 517
illnesses during the previous 2 weeks. The average age of the ill person was 30.6
± 24.3 years (range 3 months to 95 years). Percentages by age were: infants
younger than 1 year 1.0%, children aged 1-17 years 36.0%, and adults aged =18
years 63.0%. Average monthly income per household was low (13,247
naira/88.31 US$). Malaria and its symptoms (fever, chills, joint pain, headache,
gastrointestinal problems) and upper respiratory symptoms were most common.
A majority (44.8%) of the ill persons self-treated, with 93.6% using antibiotic and
antimalarial drugs. Among the households surveyed, 42.1% had drugs on hand
(average 2.3 ± 1.3, range 1-7, median 2) for disease prevention, and the most
used drugs were analgesics (46.2%) and antimalarial drugs (37.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Illness is frequent in Nigeria and is usually self-treated with
antibiotic and antimalarial drugs. Medications were reported to be the most
frequently used measure to prevent household illness. The implications of these
findings are discussed.