Self-medication with drugs or alternative medicines is a common form of care that calls upon public health actors [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that self-medication can be acceptable, when properly taught and controlled until it fully integrates into society behavior. However, it can be a threat to public health if it is not supervised [2].

In Africa, several studies have presented prevalence of self-medication. Among students residing at the Kasapa Campus of the University of Lubumbashi, A prevalence of 99% has been found [3]. In Ghana, a study that looked specifically at self-medication with antibiotics found a prevalence of 70% [4].

In Senegal, this practice is also very common and has been the subject of several studies [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] which revealed very alarming prevalence. We can take as examples. A study entitled “Self-treatment of fever in the Dakar district” revealed a prevalence of 81% [5]. Another study carried out in Grand-Yoff had shown that 80% of those surveyed practiced self-medication [10].

Although self-care does not constitute recent behavior and has been the subject of several works, current practices as the representations which underlie them have new characteristics, in connection with the technology revolution information and communication (ICT). A significant number of individuals choose a therapeutic product by engaging with their group, whose experience they harness. Up to global knowledge accessible by internet [11], this is what explains the success of medical websites, which are not lacking in sociability, and is expressed particularly in forums which host exchanges of very personal experiences putting people in touch with communities of virtual patients [11]. However, this aspect of self-medication remains poorly documented, hence the purpose of this work to determine its extent.

After three weeks of posting the questionnaire, 508 women were surveyed in the targeted Facebook groups.

The women surveyed were on average 30.7 years old, with a standard deviation of 8.7 years. The extreme ages were 58 and 15, with a predominance of women 40 to 45 (Figure 1).

Study participants subscribed on average to 3 social networks, with a standard deviation of 1.2 social networks. After Facebook. the women surveyed mainly subscribed to WhatsApp and Twitter (Figure 2).

The women surveyed were educated (98.8%), married (45.5%) and had an income-generating activity (54.1%). They lived in the Dakar region (49.8%) and had been active on Facebook for five years and more in 49.8% (Table 1).

The women interviewed addressed health issues in the Facebook groups of which they were a member in 62.2% of the cases. The sources of information used by women in the event of a health problem were mainly health professionals (77%), the Internet (59%) and social networks (18%) including Facebook

(15%) (Figure 3).

Self-medication was practiced by 68.9% of the women surveyed. Headache and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) were the most treated problems by self-medication among the women surveyed (Table 2).

Among the respondents 311 had once seen on a wall, or received medical information through Facebook, a proportion of 61.2%. In this proportion, 41.8%, or 130 were related to drug prescriptions. The other advice related to hygienic dietetics (96.1%), a consultation with a qualified health professional (54.6%), a consultation with a healer (50.4%).

A proportion of 16% of women receiving advice on taking medication through Facebook systematically checked them with a health professional. The most commonly used drugs were simple painkillers (paracetamol) and vitamins. However, other very sensitive products were also recommended through Facebook such as central action painkillers (20.0%), antibiotics (40.0%), antihypertensive drugs (5.4%) and antidiabetics (6.9%) (Table 3).

The oral tablet (92.3%) and syrup (50.0%) were the most common dosage forms found in self-medication on Facebook. Injectables and eye drops were found in 5.4% of cases, however (Table 3).

Among women who received medication advice through Facebook, 60%, or 78, had used it. The drugs were mainly purchased from pharmacies (72.4%). No woman reported buying it on the street (Table 4).

The use of Facebook groups to self-medicate would be advantageous compared to medical consultations because of its accessibility, time savings and the

effectiveness of the advice provided (Table 4).

This study focused on Senegalese women subscribing to female Facebook groups (Femme chic, Ladies club, Entre Yaays, or Femme leaders). The main limitation of this study is the fact that the data collected was exclusively declarative. No verification could be made. However, this approach gives an advantage because it makes the respondent more comfortable. The ethical considerations on anonymity and data security being shared in the information form, and the absence of collection of personal data was an advantage because the woman was alone and free to give all the answers, thus avoiding bias courtesy.

In our study, the average age of the participants is 30.7 years. This can be justified by the chosen study framework, the Facebook social network, used mainly by young internet users. The results of a Senmarkting study converge with this, revealing that in Senegal, users between 16 and 25 years of age dominate social networks like Facebook and Instagram [15]. The women who participated in our study were educated in 98.8% of cases. And 97.6% of them had gone to French school to a higher level (73%). These results are also justified by the study framework which is more used by educated people. And they agree with those from the 2017 DHS showing that internet use increases with educational level, passing among women from 7% among those with no education to 63% among those with intermediate / secondary level or more [14].

The study reveals that among the 508 women surveyed 350 self-medication, a prevalence of 68.9%. This prevalence is below those found by other studies carried out in Senegal. Thiam T [9] found an 80% prevalence in Grand Yoff ; Samb ES had objectified during a survey in the Kaolack region a prevalence of 83% [16]. In the African region higher prevalence have been found. Chiribagula VB [3] had found in students aged 18 to 35 living on the Kasapa campus of the University of Lubumbashi a prevalence of 99%, Kitengye LJ [17], meanwhile ended up with 57.4 % self-medication in the elderly. However, none of these studies evaluated self-medication specifically through social networks, it was evaluated across all communication channels.

The main health problems that lead women to self-medicate in general were mainly headaches, painful periods and stomach aches. This is due to the frequency of these symptoms in women and their impression of "not serious". According to Hariri J [18] the indications for self-medication are mainly asthenia, fever, digestive and intestinal pain, rhinitis, and minor dermatological conditions. He justifies this by a clear view of the signs but also the obtaining of drugs without medical prescription. According to Chiribagula VB [3] malaria (82.4%), fever (65.5%), headache (65.5%), cough (62%) as well as bacterial infections (50.6%) are the top five causes of self-medication. Samb ES [16] highlighted three self-medicating symptoms, namely headache (91%), fever (68%), cough (65%), and diarrhea (64%).

Regarding the most used drugs we found painkillers with simple action (84.6%), vitamins (66.9%), appetite stimulants (45.4%) and antibiotics (40%). This could be due on the one hand to the over-the-counter sale of these drugs (without prescription) but also to a cost less (Bamako Initiative), but above all the fact that these drugs are very well known to the general public. Queneau [19] found overlapping results with as main self-prescriptions aspirin and other analgesics (30.6%), ointments (8.9%), hypnotics and tranquilizers (8.6%), laxatives (6.1%), gastric dressings (3.7%) and tonics (2.7%).

The dosage forms of the drugs used were mainly oral tablets (92.3%), syrup / concentrate (50%), ointments (43.1%) dermal creams (34.6%), and ova gynecological (17.7%), Chiribagula VB found that the tablet (37%) was the most used form of self-medication [17].

The reasons cited as leading to self-medication on Facebook or the internet are, the accessibility of Facebook (67.8%), the saving of time (33.9%), and money (18.6%) on consultation, reliability of medical information previously received (28.8%). Samb ES [16] had already mentioned the lack of money, the lack of time, the perfect knowledge of drugs and their use, the prescription to be renewed as factors influencing the practice of self-medication.

The image of self-medication has changed depending on both the changes in the health system and the evolution of the status of the patient considered today as an autonomous subject. This phenomenon occurs in the digital age, where medical information is made available to everyone on the internet and social networks.

This study has shown that self-medication through social networks is a reality among Senegalese women and can serve as a platform for prescribing traditional unlicensed drugs. This situation calls on all health actors because unsupervised self-medication can cause major individual and public health problems. Reinforcement of communication for health, through these networks should be operated to prevent the health risks that this practice could cause.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Khadim, N., Tine, J.A.D., Zahra, M.F., Omar, B., Diongue, F.B., Diallo, A.I. and Adama, F. (2020) Self-Medication of Senegalese Women through Social Networks. Health, 12, 396-406. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2020.124032