Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502
Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 354-356 (2012)
Res.J.Recent Sci.

Short Communication

Study on Self-Medication and Self Diet-Management by
Women of Indore City, India
Sharma Sushama and Thakur Nandita
Department of Home Science, Govt. Girl’s PG College, Moti Tabela, Indore, MP, INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 11th October 2011, revised 27th February 2012, accepted 26th March 2012)

Abstract
Over the past two of three decades a large number of self-management interventions have been developed for a range of
different illness. Three conditions which have placed particular emphasis on self medication and dietary management are
overweight, GI disorders and diabetes. People don’t know the disadvantages of self-medication and diet management. They
don’t take advice of doctor or dietician for their health problems. This research is has aimed to know the self medication and
diet management practices of women. A statistically adequate sample of fifty women aged 30-50 years belonging to middle
income group were selected from MIG area of Indore City. A questionnaire was formed and filled from them asking questions
about their health seeking behavior. The subjects were divided into two groups, as per their age as 30-40 years and 40-50 years
and compared for experimental characteristic using % and Chi test. Obtain in Results show that in both age groups more
subjects are housewife (58% and 66%), have some health problem (62% and 76%) and higher age group has health problems
and have different types of health problems. The highest nutritional problem are overweight, under weight and anemia in that in
younger age group (52%) while older group has mostly metabolic problem (40%) and the difference is significant. Similarly
more of the subject don’t take medical advice from specialist (96% and 76%) and more of them don’t go for the follow up
checkups which is a significant difference. In younger group (80%) and in older group (56%) do not take doctor’s advice which
is significant difference. Similarly both groups of women don’t take dietary advice from dietician (82% and 78%). So, these
results show that self medication is s common practice which may cause health problems. Among the middle income group
population.
Key words: Self medication, diet management, overweight, underweight, anemia.

Introduction
Self-care can be defined as the primary public health
resource in the health care system. It consists of the health
activities and health-related decision-making of individuals,
families, friends, colleagues at work, and so on. It includes
self-medication1, non-drug self-treatment, social support in
illness, and first aid in everyday life. The reclassification of
medicinal products from sale on prescription only to nonprescription (over-the-counter, or OTC) sale is of great
current interest in many countries. Drug regulatory and
health authorities have to consider the types of medicinal
products for which reclassification are appropriate, safe and
rational in the interest of public health.
Characteristics of self-medication2: Self-medication
involves the use of medicinal products by the consumer to
treat self-recognized disorders or symptoms, or the
intermittent or continued use of a medication prescribed by a
physician for chronic or recurring diseases or symptoms. In
practice, it also includes use of the medication of family
members, especially where the treatment of children or the
elderly is involved.

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Potential risks: Self-medication has a number of potential
risks. In particular, the ordinary user will usually have no
specialized knowledge of the principles of pharmacology or
therapy, or of the specific characteristics of the medicinal
product used. This results in certain potential risks for the
individual consumer: Incorrect self-diagnosis; Failure to seek
appropriate medical advice promptly; Incorrect choice of
therapy; Failure to recognize special pharmacological risks;
Rare but severe adverse effects; Failure to recognize or selfdiagnose contraindications, interactions, warnings and
precautions; Failure to recognize or report adverse drug
reactions; Inadequate or excessive dosage; Excessively
prolonged use; Risk of dependence and abuse; Food and drug
interactions; At the community level, improper selfmedication could result in an increase in drug-induced
disease and in wasteful public expenditure; It is important to
realize that many of these risks are not unique to selfmedication: they can also occur in the prescription situation,
particularly, if the patient consults several physicians for the
illness or lacks counselling during therapy; In selecting the
types of medicinal products that can be used for selfmedication, the aim should be to exploit the benefits listed
above and to minimize the risks3. Many studies revealed that
self-medication and self-diet management by women.
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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502
Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 354-356 (2012)
Res. J. Recent Sci.
CateBarlow examined self-medication and educational
interventions developed to women in this studies ranged
from 43%to85%.
D.J.Toobert revealed that diabetes self management is usefull
both for research and practice. Glasgow Toobert analyzed
that self-diet management and dietary behavior were not
successful in many nutritional disorders. P.R.Shankar,
P.Parth analyzed self-medication and non-doctor priscibing
are common in women. In addition to allopathic drugs,
herbal remedies were also commonly used for selfmedication. Susan L. Norris reported that 72 studies has
positive effects of self-medication in type-2 diabetes but in
under guidenes of self-management training. This study was
conducted with aim to find the benefits and risk of selfmedication and self-diet management. The present study
entitled “A Study on self-medication and self-diet
management by women of Indore city.” Was conducted with
following objective and hypothesis
Objective: To assess health seeking behavior of middle aged
women belonging to middle income Group.
Hypothesis: Seeking advice from general physician and
dietician by women are not compulsory and self medication
and self diet management is more common in women aged
30-40 yrs. and 41-50 yrs.

Methodology
The study was preceded with the selection of 100 samples of
women (working and non- working). Data had been collected
through following tools and techniques4 sampling locale: The
present study was conducted in Indore district of M.P. ,
Indore district was purposively selected due to easy
accessibility. Selection of subject: A statistically adequate
sample of hundred women aged 30-50 yrs belonging to
middle income group were selected from MIG area of indore
city. Grouping of subject: the subject were divided into two
groups , as per their age 30-40 yrs. and 41-50 yrs. and
compared for experimental characteristic using % and chitest.
Tools of Data Collection: Interview: A questionnaire was
formed and filled from them asking questions about their
health seeking behavior. Observation: observation were
made to assess the performance of women on different
concepts. About 3-4 observation were done in case of women
self-management to make the data more reliable. Data
collection: final data collection tool about one and half
month. The part of data collection tools not more time.

Results and discussion
Our country India is getting lead in the field of heath sector,
on the contrary self medication and diet management habits
among the people is continuously decreasing. This is due to

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lack of awareness and because of which they deliberately
invite many diseases and health related problems Inspite of
having knowledge they lack in availing the health benefits.
The results shows here the actual thinking of women who
has depending on self medication and diet management.
Table-1 (a)
Chi-value(X) and percentages distribution of groups of
women having advice of doctor
Group-1
Group2
Advice
X-value
(30-40yrs.) (41-50yrs.)
General physician 66%
58%
8.88
Specialist
4%
24%
chi-value(X) is significant
Table-1(b)
Chi-value(X) and percentages distribution of groups of
women takes advice from dietician
Diet advice from
Group-1
Group-2
X-value
dietician
(30-40yrs.) (41-50yrs.)
Yes
18%
22%
0.25
No
82%
78%
*chi value(X) is not significant
Table-1(c)
Ch –value(X) and percentages distribution of groups of
women having self-management
Medium of
Group-1
Group-2
x-value
diet advice
(30-40yrs.)
(41-50yrs.)
Dietician
20%
22%
12.68
self
80%
78%
chi-value(x) is significant
non-specilist advise

76%
96%

group-1
group-2

Figure -1
Results shows that in both groups doesn’t take specialist
advice. In group one-96% and in group two-76%. The
difference is significant

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502
Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 354-356 (2012)
Res. J. Recent Sci.
References

self diet management
78%

82%

group-1

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group-2

Figure -2
Similaraly both groups doesn’t takes dietary advise from
dietician. In group one-82% and in group two-78%. they
have self diet management. The difference is not
significant

78%

80%

group-1
group-2

Figure -3
Similaraly both groups doesn’t takes dietary advise from
dietician. In group one-80% and in group two-78%.they
have self diet management. The difference is significant

Conclusion
Our country india is getting lead in the field of heath sector,
on the contrary self medication and diet management habits
among the people is continuously decreasing. This is due to
lackof awareness and because of which they deliberately
invite many diseases and health related problems inspite of
having knowledge they lack in availing the health benefits.so
due to the lack awareness of people I would like to give
them some advice and suggestion. It wiil be helpful for their
healthy future.Always seek advice from Doctor for any
health related problems and follow their instructions, Always
seek advice from dietician for diet management., Do not take
any medicine without consulting the Doctor.,This is your
Life and your Health therefore knowingly do not hamper or
ruin your health.

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10. Aharonovich E., Nguyen H. T. and Nunes E. V., Anger
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