Socioeconomic Determinants of Health Contributing to the Consumption of Nonprescribed Medicines in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health are understood as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that shapes health and include a domain of factors. Self-medication is influenced by these socioeconomic factors. This study, aims to quantitatively examine the relationship between these factors and the use of nonprescribed medicines and then identify which of the factors have the highest predictable value in Ethiopia. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, community-based research approach was used to explore the relationship between the dependent and independent variables in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, bivariate and regression analysis were used in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 72.2% (n=433) participants were found to have an ever experience of self-medication in their life and 35.7%) (n=214) have the practice in the last two months. Bivariate analysis showed that in the predisposing factors categories: age group (50–59) (p-value=0.034); those who are knowledgeable about all drugs not to be given to nursing mother (p-value=0.006); those who agree on the attitude that they would rather treat themselves than go to the nearest health facility (p-value=0.000) in the enabling factors; those who were satisfied with their financial quality of life (p-value=0.014) and from the need factors; those who perceived their health status as good (p-value=0.000) showed a significant association. Multivariate analysis showed that age, knowledge, attitudes showed statistical significance. Also, quality of life satisfaction of enabling factors and illness in the past two months from need factors had a statistically significant effect as predictors of utilization of nonprescribed medicines. CONCLUSION: To strategize for appropriate self-medication, interventions should focus on changing the knowledge, attitude, and perception of the specific sociodemographic factors identified in the study.