<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Self-medication of children by their parents (SMCP) is an important public health issue as the effects and potential risks may be unpredictable. The objective of this first national Montenegrin study was to assess the prevalence of and factors influencing SMCP among schoolchildren. Data were obtained from a national representative sample of 4496 schoolchildren aged 7–13 years (50.4 % boys). Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire concerning their demographic characteristics, socio-economic and cultural status, as well as the self-medication (SM) of their children. The association between SMCP and parents’ socio-economic, demographic or cultural status was assessed by logistic regression analyses. The prevalence rate of SMCP was 24.6 %. Univariate logistic regression showed that maternal socio-demographic characteristics (educational level, employment status, health care profession and smoking habits) were relevant for SMCP. In a multiple logistic regression the independent effect /adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95 % CI)/of maternal factors on SMCP remained for: education /2.23 (1.18–4.24)/, university-level <italic>vs</italic>. no education; profession /1.50 (1.07–3.00)/, health profession <italic>vs</italic>. non-health profession; and smoking habit /1.22 (1.04–1.42)/smokers <italic>vs</italic>. non-smokers. SMCP may be expected for every fourth child in Montenegro. Specific maternal factors that independently raise the probability of SMCP are higher education, health profession and smoking.</p></abstract>

Self-medication of children by their parents (SMCP) is an important public health issue as the effects and potential risks may be unpredictable. The objective of this first national Montenegrin study was to assess the prevalence of and factors influencing SMCP among schoolchildren. Data were obtained from a national representative sample of 4496 schoolchildren aged 7–13 years (50.4 % boys). Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire concerning their demographic characteristics, socio-economic and cultural status, as well as the self-medication (SM) of their children. The association between SMCP and parents’ socio-economic, demographic or cultural status was assessed by logistic regression analyses. The prevalence rate of SMCP was 24.6 %. Univariate logistic regression showed that maternal socio-demographic characteristics (educational level, employment status, health care profession and smoking habits) were relevant for SMCP. In a multiple logistic regression the independent effect /adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95 % CI)/of maternal factors on SMCP remained for: education /2.23 (1.18–4.24)/, university-level vs. no education; profession /1.50 (1.07–3.00)/, health profession vs. non-health profession; and smoking habit /1.22 (1.04–1.42)/smokers vs. non-smokers. SMCP may be expected for every fourth child in Montenegro. Specific maternal factors that independently raise the probability of SMCP are higher education, health profession and smoking.

Maternal education, health profession and cigarette smoking are decisive factors for self-medication in children by parents

Medical Faculty of the University of Montenegro

Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology

Department of Pathophysiology and Laboratory Medicine

Medical Faculty of the University of Belgrade

Institute of Public Health of Montenegro Department of Epidemiology

Acta Pharmaceutica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Self-medication of children by their parents (SMCP) is an important public health issue as the effects and potential risks may be unpredictable. The objective...

Maternal education, health profession and cigarette smoking are decisive factors for self-medication in children by parents

Published Online: Jan 16, 2020

Page range: 249 - 257

Accepted: Jun 07, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2020-0018

Keywords
self-medication of children, mother, education, health profession, smoking

© 2020 Natasa Duborija-Kovacevic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Maternal education, health profession and cigarette smoking are decisive factors for self-medication in children by parents

Published Online: Jan 16, 2020

Page range: 249 - 257

Accepted: Jun 07, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2020-0018

Keywordsself-medication of children, mother, education, health profession, smoking

© 2020 Natasa Duborija-Kovacevic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
self-medication of children, mother, education, health profession, smoking