Background: Improper household storage and disposal of medicines by the users may lead to certain problems like irrational use and environmental hazards.
Objectives: To identify the practice of storage and disposal of medicines by the users at homes.
Methods: A house to house survey was carried out in Anand district of Gujarat. One responsible person from the house with prior consent was interviewed. The inventory of medicines available in the house was noted. Storage conditions of medicine and accessibilities by children were checked. The methods of disposal of medicine practiced by them were noted down.
Results: 91.13% houses were found to have stored medicines. A significant number of medicines were found stored at appropriate place and temperature in urban houses than in rural. (p< 0.00001). A less number of medicines had easy accessibility by children in urban houses (1.88%) compared to rural (4.4%). The commonest practice of the disposal of medicines was in the garbage (60.25% - urban and 65.75% - rural). Advice regarding the disposal of medicines by the prescribers was given only with 3.85% medicine formulations.
Conclusion: There is lack of knowledge and awareness on storage and disposal of unwanted medicines which might be the factors leading to irrational use, adverse drug reaction and finally to environmental pollution. Hence, health education on storage and disposal of unwanted medicines and creating awareness on environmental problems and development of a policy guideline with immediate implementation are needs of the day.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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