Abstract:

Background information: Common cold is caused by several viruses and it is a self-limiting condition. Finding and treating the underlying cause is important for treating cough. The irrational use of antibacterial agents lead to emergence and spread of multiple resistant organism that would be difficult.

Methodology: A cross sectional was conducted in Makongoro Health centre in Nyamagana district at Mwanza. Tanzania. 376 care givers attending RCH clinics were selected by simple random sampling. A non-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from participants and data obtained were analysed by SPSS version 20.

Results and discussion: The prevalence of using non-prescribed antibacterial agents was 44.4%. Main sources of the drugs used were accredited drug shops (53.3%), community pharmacies (44.9%) and 8% used left over. Age of children was found to have a significant association with self-medication (p=0.004). The results were similar to the findings of other studies.

Conclusion and recommendations: The prevalence of self-medication was high (p=44%), there is a need to develop suitable strategic interventions like public education and regulations to sales and dispensing of antibacterial agents is should be strengthen so as to improve antibacterial agents use, therefore reducing drug resistance.