ArticleBMC public health2024
Prevalence of unused medications and determinants among the general public in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Disposal of unnecessary and expired medicines in households: Practices and factors associated with proper medicine disposal using the extended Theory of Planned Behavior.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2026Article
- A University-Led Take-Back Program for Pharmaceutical Waste Management: Eleven Years of Real-World Evidence on Medication Non-Use and Disposal Patterns.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The interlinked crisis: pharmaceutical pollution as a driver of antimicrobial resistance in East Africa: an urgent call for ecopharmacovigilance and one health approach.One health outlook · 2026Review
- Household disposal of unused and expired medications in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: Knowledge, attitudes, practices, and factors associated with good disposal practices.SAGE open medicine · 2026Article
- Parental practices and perspectives on unused pediatric medications at home: A community-based cross-sectional study in Burdur-Türkiye.PloS one · 2026Article
- Prevalence and determinants of unused medicines among households in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2025Article
- Article
- Disposal Practices of Leftover Medicines Among University of Rwanda Undergraduate Students.Integrated pharmacy research & practice · 2025Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAccumulation, improper storage, and disposal of unused medications in the households have become a growing public health, environmental and economic concern. However, the magnitude, reasons, and disposal practices of the problems are not well studied in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of unused medications at household levels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
methodsA cross-sectional study design was used to collect data in Addis Ababa from April to May 2021. A total of 759 households in the Gulele and Lideta sub-cities were included in the survey using systematic random sampling techniques. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and structured observation checklist. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with unused medications. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21.
resultsAmong the surveyed households, 463 (61%) had unused medications of which anti-pains (30%) and anti-microbials (29%) were found to be the most common classes. The main reasons for the presence of unused medications were saving for future use (35.8%) and 'relief' or disappearance of symptoms (23.8%). The majority of households (69.2%) used household garbage for the disposal of their unused medications. A multivariable logistic regression analysis identified households who earned higher incomes, namely 8,001-12,000 ETB (AOR = 2.6 (1.2-5.7)) and more than 12,000 ETB (AOR = 2.9 (1.2-7.0)) were more likely to have unused medications.
conclusionsThere is a high prevalence of unused medications and unsafe disposal practice in households of Addis Ababa. Education about the rational use and safe disposal practice of prescribed medications should be given to the community. The government should come up with appropriate legal frameworks and device appropriate collection and disposal mechanism for unused medications emanating from households.
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