Estudo de utilização de medicamentos pela população de comunidades quilombolas de Vitória da Conquista/BA

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the determinants of medication use by the quilombola population of Vitória da Conquista/BA, considering two events: drug use by overall population and by male and female strata, and self-medication. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study with 797 adults in 2011. Differences between proportions were tested with the chi-square distribution. Differences between means were compared by analysis of variance. We estimated the prevalence, prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals using Poisson regression with robust variance. Multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance was used to obtain estimates of prevalence ratios for medication use and self-medication, adjusted for potential confounders. Program R, version 2.11.1, and Stata, version 10.0, were used in data analysis. The most consumed drugs by the population were those that act in Cardiovascular and Nervous systems. The prevalence of drug use was 41.9%, significantly higher in women (50.3%) than in men (31.9%). After adjustment, drug use by the studied population was associated with female gender, age 60 and older, higher economic level, worse perceived health, greater number of self-reported morbidity and medical consultations. The same associations were observed for women and for men, however, for men self-rated health showed no influence on use. The most used drugs as self-medication belonged to Nervous and Musculoskeletal systems. After adjustment, the following factors were associated with self-medication: having a partner, higher education, higher economic level, having shown inability to perform usual activities because of health problems in the 15 days preceding the interview, a higher degree of body aches and using a larger number of medications. Women and the elderly should be the preference groups to develop specific strategies to ensure the rational use of medicines. Knowing the profile of drug use by quilombola population is the first step to understand the access and discuss their rational use. Other aspects deserve further investigation in this population.