Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care 2016; 2(4): 114-118 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/jfmhc doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.24 ISSN: 2469-8326 (Print); ISSN: 2469-8342 (Online) Family Dysfunction and Self-Medication for Acute Febrile Illness Alexander Adelabu Azonobo * , Musa Dankyau Department of Family Medicine, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria Email address: divineheritagecare@gmail.com (A. A. Azonobo), dankyau@gmail.com (M. Dankyau) * Corresponding author To cite this article: Alexander Adelabu Azonobo, Musa Dankyau. Family Dysfunction and Self-Medication for Acute Febrile Illness. Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care. Vol. 2, No. 4, 2016, pp. 114-118. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.24 Received: September 2, 2016; Accepted: October 29, 2016; Published: December 12, 2016 Abstract: Background: Fever is a common complain from patients globally. Self medication for acute febrile illness is also a common practice but often with severe consequences. The family influences the health of the individuals and hence the community in several ways. Family function has major influence on decisons made at home including health seeking behaviour. Objectives: This study set out to determine the relationship between family function and self medication for acute febrile illness in a primary care setting in Jos, in order to proffer solutions to irresponsible and dangerous practices. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study at the GOPD of Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH), Jos from October 2012 to February 2013. The study population comprised all patients who presented at the study site with fever or history of fever of not more than two weeks duration and who met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected with interviewer-administered structured questionaire and analysed with the Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS), version 21. Results: The study revealed a high level of self medication (85.0%) in the study population. Most (92.5%) of the participants were from highly functional families. There was a statistically significant relationship between family dysfunction and self medication for acute febrile illness. Conclusion: There is a high level of self medication among the study population. Although highly functional families were in the majority, family dysfunction was significantly related to self medication. Keywords: Family Function, Dysfunctional Family, Family APGAR, Self-medication, Fever 1. Introduction Self-medication has been a feature of healthcare for many years. [1] Self-care, including appropriate self-medication, can promote early and judicious response to diseases. [1, 2] Self- medication commonly utilizes over the counter medications (OTC), but where drug distribution controls are weak, patients may buy classified medications from numerous outlets. [3] Fever is a common feature of many diseases and is a symptom that is particularly linked to self-medication prior to health facility visits. [4-6] This reveals a decision-making process among caregivers [7, 8] that can provide a foundation for health education on safe and effective home-treatment practices. The family remains the most basic relational unit and intimate social environment in society. [9] The family also has a major influence on the physical and mental health of its members, [10] and is often the primary source of health beliefs and health-related behaviors. Family practice focuses on the patient in the context of the family. By understanding how the family influences health, the family physician has the opportunity to anticipate and reduce the adverse effects of family stress, and use the family as a resource in patient care. [11] A family-oriented approach to health care is based on the biopsychosocial model that emphasizes the relationship between biologic, interpersonal and social factors in health. [12] A better understanding of health-seeking behavior of people especially when suffering from acute fever, a common symptom of malaria, is important for effective management and control of malaria. [13] It is documented that self- treatment at home is the major action taken to manage malaria, a common cause of acute febrile illness. [14] Chukwuocha and Chukwuocha in a review of the continued relevance of home management of malaria strategy in the