Ainun Jariya, Andi Atirah Masyita, Ririen Hardani

Self-medication, the act of treating oneself without a doctor's prescription, carries inherent risks, as evidenced by the substantial 85.85% engagement in this practice among Central Sulawesi residents in 2021, according to the Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics. This study, conducted in Tondo Village from August to November 2021 with a sample of 386 respondents, aimed to illuminate the characteristics of those partaking in self-medication. Noteworthy findings included a majority of female respondents (52.3%), aged 26-35 (24.4%), engaged in household work (31.1%), and with a high school education background (46.4%). Common minor illnesses addressed through self-medication encompassed fever (15.54%), ulcers (7.46%), coughs (15.54%), flu (18.91%), diarrhea (2.85%), headaches (1.30%), and allergies (0.78%). Examining over-the-counter (OTC) and OTC limited medicines, prevalent choices included paracetamol for fever (33.16%), antacids for ulcers (75.70%), Komix® for coughs (28.8%), Mixagrib® for flu (36.99%), Entrostop® for diarrhea (70.00%), Ibuprofen for headaches (100%), and CTM for allergies (100%), with 61.46% procured from pharmacies or drug stores. The selection of medications often stemmed from personal or familial usage history (84.46%), and 47.15% opted for self-medication to economize on treatment costs. Encouragingly, the study found that 75.09% of respondents exhibited good knowledge regarding the use of OTC and OTC-limited drugs for self-medication, underscoring the importance of ongoing education and awareness for responsible self-medication practices in the community.