Abstract

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019 is putting a massive strain on the vulnerable healthcare systems in low and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Inequitable access to healthcare is further widened by the socio-economic gap and sense of insecurity during this pandemic. Self-medication is a common practice in Bangladesh as it provides a low-cost alternative for people, which involves inappropriate and injudicious use of medicines to treat self-recognized symptoms by the people. During the outbreak of COVID-19 in Dhaka city, the tendency of taking medicines by own decision was increased alarmingly due to unusual distress, caused by high self-awareness of their health and buying capacity of medication. Objectives: To observe the prevalence, pattern, sources, and impact of self-medication practice among the respondents with high socio-economic standings and education. Setting: Citizens living in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 outbreak from April 2020 to May 2020. Method: Cross-sectional online survey conducted on 626 citizens without having a background of medical knowledge or related to any healthcare services (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical students) by structured questionnaires during the COVID-19 outbreak. Outcome measures: Frequency of self-medication, commonly used antimicrobial agents, symptoms causing self-medication, sources of inspiration, relation with COVID-19 test results, economic burden involved in self-medication during the outbreak.