Assessment of knowledge and practices for disposal of unfinished, unwanted and expired medications from households in Iringa municipal council, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Patients may not consume all the medications prescribed and dispensed to them for various reasons. Practices for the unfinished medications in households are a potential to environmental pollution. Presence of medicinal contaminants in the environment has detrimental consequences to all forms of life. Household disposal practices for unused medications contribute significantly to entry of medications into the environment and have emerged worldwide environmental and public health concerns.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices for disposal of unfinished, unwanted and expired medications from households among residents of Iringa Municipal Council, Tanzania.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Municipal involving 409 (186 male and 223 female) conveniently sampled participants visiting major drug dispensing outlets. Information about storage, disposal practices and knowledge of disposal methods was collected on previously tested self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Descriptive analysis procedures were used.
Results: Household storage was the commonest practice (94.4%) towards unfinished medications while throwing away (3.4%), sharing (1.7%) and selling (0.5%) were less practiced. Of 386 respondents reported to store medications in their households, 66.6% eventually disposed of the drugs in domestic trash in events of expiry or when drugs became unwanted. Burying (9.1%), throwing/flushing down toilets (19.7%) and burning (4.6%) were less encountered. Public awareness that improper disposal practices harm the environment was 62.1% but majority (85%) of respondents had never been informed/ educated about safe disposal practices. Public education on the subject was suggested by more than 90% of the respondents.
Conclusions: Household storage of medications is common in the Municipal and is associated with poor disposal practices. The need for proper knowledge and information on safe practices for unfinished, unwanted and expired medications accompanied by formulation and dissemination of guidelines on safe drug handling practices is also imperative.

Key words: Medication Disposal, Expired, Unwanted, Unfinished, Iringa