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Nguyen CT, Nguyen HT, Boyer L, Auquier P, Fond G, Do KN, Dang AK, Do HP, Latkin CA, Ho RCM, Ho CSH. Prevalence and impacts of self-medication in a disadvantaged setting: the importance of multi-dimensional health interventions. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1176730. [PMID: 37575118 PMCID: PMC10412933 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1176730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Self-medication is recognized as an effective form of treatment and is increasingly encouraged to treat minor illnesses. However, misuse of self-medication leaves devastating impacts on human health and causes antimicrobial resistance. Using medication without a prescription among farmers could cause more severe effects on their health than non-farm workers since they suffer from several occupational hazards such as excessive exposure to pesticides. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 197 residents living in Moc Chau from August to September. A structured questionnaire and face-to-face were used to collecting data. The multivariate logistic model was applied to indicate associated factors with the self-medication. Results The prevalence of self-medication among farmers was 67%. Pain relievers (66.7%) and antibiotics (32.5%) were the types of medicines that were the most commonly purchased and used without a medical prescription. Ethnics and health status also significantly affected the self-medication practice as well as the purchase and use of antibiotics. The distance to travel to a medical center and the dangerous or difficult travel, participants with arthritis or inpatient treatment had significantly associated with buying and using the medicine and antibiotics without the medical prescription of farmers. Conclusion Our research highlights a considerably high prevalence of self-medication among farmers residing in the mountainous area of Vietnam. Individual factors such as ethnics, health status, distance to health centers, and dangerous or difficult travel were found to be related to the SM practice as well as the purchase and use of antibiotics. From that, the current study suggests interventions. For instance, official guidelines are needed to raise awareness and minimize the disadvantages of self-medication; and digital health technologies should be applied to reduce the gap in healthcare service between mountainous and other areas of Vietnam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuong Tat Nguyen
- Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
- Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Hien Thu Nguyen
- Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
- Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Laurent Boyer
- EA 3279, CEReSS, Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Auquier
- EA 3279, CEReSS, Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Guillaume Fond
- EA 3279, CEReSS, Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Khanh Nam Do
- Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Anh Kim Dang
- Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Huyen Phuc Do
- Institute of Health Economics and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Carl A. Latkin
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Roger C. M. Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cyrus S. H. Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Nguyen-Viet H, Pham G, Lam S, Pham-Duc P, Dinh-Xuan T, Jing F, Kittayapong P, Adisasmito W, Zinsstag J, Grace D. International, Transdisciplinary, and Ecohealth Action for Sustainable Agriculture in Asia. Front Public Health 2021; 9:592311. [PMID: 33614577 PMCID: PMC7892777 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.592311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainably intensifying agriculture to secure food for people, while minimizing the human, animal, and environmental health impacts is an unprecedented global food security challenge. Action research is needed to understand and mitigate impacts, with Ecosystem approaches to health (Ecohealth) emerging as a promising framework to support such efforts. Yet, few have critically examined the application of Ecohealth principles in an agricultural context, particularly in Southeast Asia where agricultural intensification is rapidly expanding. In this paper, we evaluate the strengths, challenges, and opportunities of agriculture-related Ecohealth projects in low-resource settings of Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and China, drawing on a case study of the Field Building Leadership Initiative (FBLI). To do this, we used a developmental evaluation framework involving several iterative cycles of document reviews, interviews, focus groups, and outcome harvesting with researchers, partners, and community members involved in FBLI. Results highlight the importance of transdisciplinarity, participation, and knowledge-to-action principles in co-generating knowledge and co-developing practical solutions. Implementing such principles presents challenges in terms of coordinating regional collaborations, managing high workloads, meaningfully engaging communities, and ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation. To address these challenges, there is a need to strengthen capacity in integrated approaches to health, improve institutionalization of Ecohealth, foster community engagement, and systematically monitor and evaluate efforts. Ecohealth holds significant promise in improving food security, but only when considerable time is spent developing and implementing projects with communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Nguyen-Viet
- Animal and Human Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.,Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research, Hanoi University of Public Health and Vietnam Public Health Association, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Giang Pham
- Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research, Hanoi University of Public Health and Vietnam Public Health Association, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Steven Lam
- Independent Research and Evaluation Consultant, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Phuc Pham-Duc
- Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research, Hanoi University of Public Health and Vietnam Public Health Association, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Fang Jing
- Institute for Health Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Pattamaporn Kittayapong
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Wiku Adisasmito
- Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Jakob Zinsstag
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Delia Grace
- Animal and Human Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.,Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, United Kingdom
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