Consumption of medicines in region of S. Paulo State (Brazil), 1985

Abstract

The objective of this study who the evaluation of the characteristics of the consumption of medicines by the urban population of Araraquara, S. Paulo, Brazil. The data were collected by means of house to house interviews during August and September, 1985. It was discovered that 42.1% of medicines used had been acquired without medical prescriptions. The consumption of medicines taken by the female population was larger than taken by the male. In terms of self-medication the highest rate of consumption was found in the age group of 50 and above (31.6%). Industrialized medicines acounted for the greater part of the consumption (97.6%). Medical prescriptions which had been received on previous visits to doctors and were taken in different situations (12.0%), which shows the importance of the doctor's role and criteria as regards medicines used for self-medication. The person of the pharmacist and/or drug store resistant contributes with 10.0% of the medicines prescribed and taken in this way. Suggestions made by friends, relations and neighbors (9.1%) reveal the intense exchange of remedies in relation to morbid states and therapeutical indications.