Household Medicines Disposal Practices in Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Availability and prompt access to medications are crucial for effective healthcare delivery, but the quantity of pharmaceuticalwaste generated from unwanted/unused and expired medications is of great concern globally.Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the medicines disposal knowledge, attitudes and practice of the residents ofMaiduguri metropolis, northeastern Nigeria.Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based survey was done using a pre-validated questionnaire, during a one-month (November)period of ۲۰۱۸. Conveniently selected residents of the ۲۲ units or wards of the metropolis completed the survey instrument.Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version ۲۱. The relationship between variablesand demographics of the study population was investigated using the chi-square test. P < ۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: About ۳۵.۰% of the participants kept unused/unwanted medicines at home for future use/until expiration, followed bygiving them to friends and relatives (۳۰.۲%). More than one-half (۵۹.۷%) of the study population got rid of expired medicine throughhousehold garbage, while a few (۱.۳%) gave them to friends/relatives and buried in the ground. There were relationships betweenparticipants’ gender, age, marital status, educational status and unused/unwanted medicine disposal practices. Similarly, therewere relationships between participants’ gender, age, marital status and expired medicines disposal practices. Most (۸۰.۰%) of thestudy population knew the harmful impact of inappropriate discarding of expired and unused/unwanted medicines to public wellbeingand the environment.Conclusions: This study showed that the mostcommonmethods of disposal of unused/unwanted and expired medicine were keepingthem for future use or until expiration, and throwing them in the household garbage respectively. The results have shown thata sizeable proportion of the participants were aware of the negative impact of improper disposal of medicines, although appropriatediscarding behaviors were lacking, making it a priority for concerned authorities in our country to formulate and implementguidelines to protect public health and environment.

کلیدواژه ها:

Unused/Unwanted Medicines ، Expired Medicines ، Medicine Disposal ، Nigeria