Medication disposal: knowledge and practices of primary health care users in the municipality of Araçatuba, State of São Paulo, South-eastern Brazil
Our aim was to obtain information from users regarding the disposal location for unused or expired household medications. A descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted with 451 patients from primary health care centres in Araçatuba, SP, Brazil. The respondents answered a pre- va...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | Brasil |
| Recursos: | Universidade de Brasília (UnB) |
| Repositorio: | Sustentabilidade em Debate (Online) |
| Idioma: | inglés portugués |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/57307 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://periodicos.unb.br/index.php/sust/article/view/57307 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palavra-chave: | Medicamentos Descarte Saúde Meio ambiente Medications Disposal Health Environment |
| Resumo: | Our aim was to obtain information from users regarding the disposal location for unused or expired household medications. A descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted with 451 patients from primary health care centres in Araçatuba, SP, Brazil. The respondents answered a pre- validated questionnaire, composed of objective questions. For data analysis, we used the chi-square association test and chi-square with Yates’ correction, with a significance level of 5%. Age is associated with the location chosen to dispose of medications, while receiving guidance on the correct place modifies certain disposal habits, with 95% confidence. Most people believe that improper disposal of medications can cause harm to the environment and to human and animal health; however, the most common way to dispose of medications is to throw them in the household waste. Consumer knowledge and practices regarding medication disposal need to be improved. |
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