Prevalence of self-medication and associated factors in adolescents aged 18-19 years: the 1997/1998 cohort in São Luís-MA, Brazil.

This article aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in adolescents. Cross-sectional study, nested in cohort, with 2,515 adolescents aged 18-19 years born in São Luís-MA. The use of medication in the last 15 days without a medical prescription or by a qualified professional was considered self-medication. Factors associated with self-medication were evaluated using Poisson regression with robust variances and hierarchical selection of variables. Medicines were used in the last 15 days by 48.05% of adolescents. Among these, 70.09% use it without a prescription or indication from another health professional. The most used medications for self-medication were "over the counter" (93.68%). Self-medication was positively associated with female gender (PR: 1.41; 95%CI: 1.25-1.59), screen time ≥5h/day (PR: 1.32; 95%CI: 1.05-1.67) and self-reported diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (PR: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.02-1.39); however, negatively associated with self-satisfaction with health (PR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.67-0.94) and hospitalization in the previous year (PR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.50-0.97). Self-medication was common among adolescents and to reduce this practice, greater attention should be given to women, individuals with intense exposure to meshes and allergic diseases.

Prevalence of self-medication and associated factors in adolescents aged 18-19 years: the 1997/1998 cohort in São Luís-MA, Brazil / Prevalência de automedicação e fatores associados em adolescentes de 18-19 anos: a coorte de 1997/1998 em São Luís-MA, Brasil

Abstract This article aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in adolescents. Cross-sectional study, nested in cohort, with 2,515 adolescents aged 18-19 years born in São Luís-MA. The use of medication in the last 15 days without a medical prescription or by a qualified professional was considered self-medication. Factors associated with self-medication were evaluated using Poisson regression with robust variances and hierarchical selection of variables. Medicines were used in the last 15 days by 48.05% of adolescents. Among these, 70.09% use it without a prescription or indication from another health professional. The most used medications for self-medication were "over the counter" (93.68%). Self-medication was positively associated with female gender (PR: 1.41; 95%CI: 1.25-1.59), screen time ≥5h/day (PR: 1.32; 95%CI: 1.05-1.67) and self-reported diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (PR: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.02-1.39); however, negatively associated with self-satisfaction with health (PR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.67-0.94) and hospitalization in the previous year (PR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.50-0.97). Self-medication was common among adolescents and to reduce this practice, greater attention should be given to women, individuals with intense exposure to meshes and allergic diseases.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a prevalência e os fatores associados a automedicação em adolescentes. Estudo transversal, aninhado a uma coorte, com 2.515 adolescentes de 18-19 anos nascidos em São Luís-MA. O uso de algum medicamento nos últimos 15 dias sem prescrição médica ou de profissional habilitado foi considerado automedicação. Os fatores associados a automedicação foram avaliados usando regressão de Poisson com variâncias robustas e seleção hierárquica das variáveis. Medicamentos foram utilizados nos últimos 15 dias por 48,05% dos adolescentes. Entre estes, 70,09% fazem uso sem receita médica ou indicação de outro profissional de saúde. Os medicamentos mais utilizados na automedicação foram os "over the counter" (93,68%). A automedicação foi positivamente associada ao sexo feminino (RP: 1,41; IC95%: 1,25-1,59), tempo de tela ≥5h/dia (RP: 1,32; IC95%: 1,05-1,67) e diagnóstico autorreferido de rinite alérgica (RP: 1,19; IC95%: 1,02-1,39); porém, negativamente associada a autossatisfação com a saúde (PR: 0,79; IC95%: 0,67-0,94) e hospitalização no ano anterior (RP: 0,70; IC95%: 0,50-0,97). A automedicação foi comum entre os adolescentes e para redução dessa prática uma maior atenção deve ser dada a mulheres, indivíduos com intensa exposição a telas e doenças alérgicas.