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Self-medication refers to taking any medication to treat oneself for an illness without consulting a healthcare professional. Such illnesses can include fever, body aches, indigestion, diarrhea, and more. Often, various individuals like friends, family members, or even pharmacies may offer suggestions to the ill person regarding which medication to use for treatment. The medication can either be a herbal remedy or a standard pharmaceutical drug available without a prescription.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medication plays a crucial role in healthcare across Africa, providing accessible and affordable treatment for common ailments without the need for a prescription. In many regions, OTC drugs serve as the first line of defence against illnesses due to limited access to formal healthcare facilities. Understanding consumer behaviour, availability, and regulatory frameworks is essential for ensuring the safe and effective use of OTC medications across the continent.
To better understand the perspectives of Africans on over-the-counter drugs, GeoPoll conducted a survey capturing insights into their accessability, usage, and challenges. This report highlights the key findings from the survey and sheds light on the current state of over-the-counter drugs usage across the continent.
Demographic Overview
The survey gathered feedback from 2,093 respondents in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The participants ranged from 18-35 years old, with the largest share being between 25-35 years old (56%), and comprised 68% male and 32% female. A majority, (65%) are college degree holders. In addition, 76% stated that they reside in urban areas whereas 25% live in rural areas.
Key Findings
Over-The-Counter Self Medication
According to The World Health Organization; self-medication as “use of pharmaceutical or medicinal products by the consumer to treat self-recognized disorders or symptoms, the intermittent or continued use of a medication previously prescribed by a physician for chronic or recurring disease or symptom, or the use of medication recommended by lay sources or health workers not entitled to prescribe medicine.
The survey uncovered insights into the self-medication habits of respondents. A notable 42% admitted to occasionally turning to over-the-counter (OTC) medications without the guidance of a doctor. Meanwhile, a significant 26% reported that they frequently rely on these remedies to address their ailments. On the other end of the spectrum, 21% indicated they rarely self-medicate, while a smaller segment, comprising 13%, stated that they have never resorted to OTC solutions for their medication.
Place of purchase
A significant majority (86%) of individuals who reported purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs indicated that they do so from pharmacies. In contrast, 7% of consumers prefer to obtain their medications from kiosks, while 6% choose supermarkets as their shopping venue. A smaller segment, comprising 2%, purchases their medicines from online stores.
Consultation
The survey reveals that pharmacists are the most consulted source for health advice, with 53% of individuals preferring to seek their guidance. This trend is largely due to many people choosing pharmacies as their primary location for purchasing medications, often interacting directly with pharmacists who can suggest appropriate drugs. In contrast, 24% of respondents seek advice from doctors or physicians. Additionally, 14% rely on information from friends and family, while 6% turn to online platforms for guidance. Notably, 4% of individuals reported not consulting anyone for health-related advice.
Most frequently used OTC drugs
- Pain relievers (paracetamol / ibuprofen) – (76%)
- Cold and flu medication – (70%)
- Cough syrup – (36%)
- Antibiotics – (31%)
- Antacids or digestive aids – (22%)
- Vitamins or supplements – (20%)
- Ointments – (14%)
- Antihistamines for allergies – (13%)
Pain relievers like paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) medications, with 76% of consumers relying on them for relief. Cold and flu remedies are also widely used (70%), followed by cough syrups at 36%. Despite being prescription-based in many regions, antibiotics are obtained OTC by 31% of users. Antacids and digestive aids (22%), along with vitamins and supplements (20%), are also frequently purchased. Additionally, ointments (14%) and antihistamines for allergies (13%) contribute to the range of OTC treatments used for everyday health needs.
Dosage instructions
Survey results indicate that 66% of respondents consistently read dosage instructions before taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication, to ensure proper use. Meanwhile, 28% only read the instructions occasionally, while 7% rarely do so, highlighting potential risks associated with improper medication use.
Potential risks of OTC Self medication
Self-medication can pose significant risks and result in various complications and health problems. One potential danger of self-treatment is the possibility of misdiagnosing oneself and using inappropriate medication. Additionally, harmful interactions between drugs might happen due to incorrect dosages or misuse of medications.
From the survey, half of the respondents acknowledged being fully aware of the potential dangers associated with the over-the-counter self-medication. Meanwhile, 43% are aware of some risks but not all of them, and 8% do not recognize any risks at all.
Side Effects of OTC Self medication
A striking 62% of the participants shared that they had never encountered any adverse effects from using over-the-counter (OTC) medications, highlighting a sense of confidence in these easily accessible treatments. Conversely, a notable 38% admitted to experiencing side effects during their use, shedding light on the complexities and varied reactions individuals may have to this form of medication.
Reasons for choosing self-medication
The primary reason for individuals opting for self-medication is cost, with 53% of respondents indicating that it is cheaper than visiting a doctor. Convenience also plays a significant role, as 26% of participants noted that self-medication is more accessible than seeking professional care. Additionally, 15% of those surveyed cited limited access to healthcare services as a reason for their choice, while a small percentage (2%) expressed greater trust in over-the-counter (OTC) drugs compared to healthcare professionals.
Is healthcare affordable?
Healthcare is typically viewed as unaffordable for many individuals in Africa, as most encounter considerable financial strain from high out-of-pocket expenses for medical care, restricted availability of public health insurance, and minimal government investment in healthcare relate to other global regions. This reality often thrusts individuals deeper into poverty when they require medical attention. According to WHO, The practice of out-of-pocket payments, warns the report, continues to place a financial burden on over 200 million people, including pushing over 150 million people into or deeper into poverty (latest data, from 2019) across the WHO Africa Region. It also exacts a heavy price on people’s health and hampersprogress in attaining universal health coverage.
In fact, globally, half of all people impoverished because of out-of-pocket payments live in Africa.
Ghana
Among those who were surveyed, 49% reported that healthcare is moderately affordable, while 30% indicated that it is not affordable at all, and 23% believed that healthcare is affordable in the nation.
Kenya
In Kenya, half of the respondents indicated that healthcare is somewhat affordable, while 31% asserted that it is not affordable at all, and 20% reported that it is affordable.
Tanzania
51% of individuals in Tanzania feel that healthcare is somewhat affordable, contrasting with Kenya and Ghana, where 37% reported that it’s very affordable and 14% expressed that it’s completely unaffordable.
Uganda
In Uganda, 53% of the respondents reported that healthcare is somewhat affordable, while 25% noted that it is very affordable, and 24% expressed that it is not affordable at all.
Access to healthcare
Across the continent, nearly half of those surveyed (49%) stated that getting healthcare services is somewhat easy. In addition, 28% of participants indicated that they can obtain necessary medications with a high level of ease. However, a notable 20% of those surveyed expressed that they encounter challenges when trying to access healthcare, considering it to be difficult, while a smaller group, comprising 4%, described the process as very difficult. This highlights a diverse range of experiences when it comes to healthcare accessibility across different regions.
Professional healthcare vs Over the counter self medication
The survey indicated that a large majority, 93%, would choose professional medication if it were readily available and cost-effective. Conversely, a smaller group of participants, 7%, expressed that they would not seek professional healthcare.
Methodology/About this Survey
This Exclusive Survey was run via the GeoPoll mobile application between the 17th January and 5th of February 2025 in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The sample size was 2,093, composed of random GeoPoll app users between 18 and 35. Since the survey was randomly distributed, the results are slightly skewed towards younger respondents.
GeoPoll is committed to supporting pharmaceutical companies, health organizations, NGOs, and governments in future health challenges. Together, we can use data to inform targeted interventions, mitigate the impact of public health crises, and build more resilient health systems for the future. Our mobile-based surveys offer a unique and tried-and-tested way to gather insights on disease spread, public perception, and vaccine hesitancy, especially in under-resourced regions.
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