International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health | 2016 | Vol 5 | Issue 06 1134 Access this article online Website: http://www.ijmsph.com Quick Response Code: DOI: 10.5455/ijmsph.2016.17072015160 Research Article A cross-sectional study on self-medication practices among the rural population of Meghalaya Apurba Marak, Madhur Borah, Himashree Bhattacharyya, Kaushik Talukdar Department of Community Medicine, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Correspondence to: Madhur Borah, E-mail: borahmadhur8@gmail.com Received July 17, 2015. Accepted October 8, 2015 Background: Self-medication can be described as a double-edged sword for its users, because it has both benefcial and harmful effects. The practice of self-medication is infuenced by various factors. Meghalaya being an antimalarial drug resistant region is very much vulnerable to harms of self-medication. Objective: Therefore, this study was initiated to determine the prevalence of self-medication for allopathic drugs among the rural population and to fnd out the association between certain socio-demographic characteristics and self-medication. Materials and Methods: The study was a community-based, cross-sectional study carried out at Sohiong area of Mawphlang Block, East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, India. A total of 400 respondents of 18 years of age or more were randomly selected for the study. Result: Prevalence of self-medication was found to be 55% for allopathic drugs. Higher percentages of self-medication practices were seen among male gender (54.7%), people educated at least up to high school (64%), and in the younger age group (55%). Mild illness (30%) was the most common reason for self-medication followed by unwillingness to go to doctors (27%). Cough and common cold (28.3%) were found to be the most common symptoms for self-medication. Most common source of information for self-medication was family members and friends (38.7%). Conclusion: Higher percentages of self-medication practices were seen among the males, higher educational and socio- economic status, and younger age group. Health education to people regarding responsible self-medication is necessary to prevent misuse and adverse effect of self-medication. KEYWORDS: Self-medication, rural population, cross sectional study, socioeconomic status, allopathic drugs, health education Abstract International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health Online 2016. © 2016 Madhur Borah. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license. minor ailments is not necessary are the keys that lead to this relatively newer concept. [1] In 1978, the Declaration of Alma-Ata recognized people’s involvement in achieving the optimum health. Also Ottawa declaration of health promotion in 1986 emphasized the central role of individuals and communities in contributing to health. [2] Self-medication is a tool in this approach. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defned self-medication as the practice whereby individuals treat their ailments and conditions with medicines that are approved and available without prescription, and which are safe and effec- tive when used as directed. [3] The WHO promotes the practice of responsible self-medication so that patients can get desired benefts without overburdening the health-care delivery system especially in rural and remote areas. [4] But self-medication can be described as a double-edged sword for its users, because it has both benefcial and harmful effects. Self-medication has Introduction Self-medication is an important aspect in health-care deliv- ery system especially in a developing country like India. Making the individuals responsible for their own health through health education and make them aware that professional care for