Automedicação entre agentes comunitários de saúde no interior do Amazonas

Abstract

Introduction: medicines can prevent, treat, cure or diagnose diseases. On the other hand, if consumed indiscriminately, as occurs in the practice of self-medication, they can cause damage to health. Objectives: to evaluate the practice of self-medication among Community Health Agents of Coari - Amazonas. Method: this is a crosssectional study conducted with Community Health Agents in the municipality of Coari - Amazonas. Sociodemographic information, perception of work, alcohol consumption, self-reported diseases and medication consumption were used. In the bivariate analysis of the data, the Chi-square test was used. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed. Results: 215 subjects were interviewed, of these 62.1% practiced self-medication, having analgesics (52.3%), followed by antibacterial drugs of systemic use (11.5%) as groups of drugs most consumed in self-medication. In the logistic regression analysis, the variable health problem remained associated with self-medication (OR = 2.60; 95% CI = 1.137 - 5.956). Conclusion: the practice of self-medication is common among Community Health Agents, even in remote areas of the Brazilian Amazon, pointing out the need for promotion, qualification and training on the rational use of medicines among these health professionals.