Archives
International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Effects of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and estimated cost implications on rural farm families' agricultural production in imo state, Nigeria
Oparaojiaku, J.O., Akanazu, C.O., Udensi, J.U., Ogwo, U.K., Anyanwu, E.O., Ohiri, J.C., Nwadinigwe, F.C.,Kenechukwu, O.Q., Obasi, C.C., Mbanefo, D.N., Osuagwu, I.K., Ajoku, C.U., Ejiogu, C.C., Osumune, A.C., Ejezie, B., Njoku, J
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 272-283
Received on: 13/03/2026
Revised on: 02/04/2026
Accepted on: 23/04/2026
Published on: 01/05/2026
-
Oparaojiaku, J.O., Akanazu, C.O., Udensi, J.U., Ogwo, U.K., Anyanwu, E.O., Ohiri, J.C., Nwadinigwe, F.C.,Kenechukwu, O.Q., Obasi, C.C., Mbanefo, D.N., Osuagwu, I.K., Ajoku, C.U., Ejiogu, C.C., Osumune, A.C., Ejezie, B., Njoku, J( 2026).
Effects of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and estimated cost implications on rural farm families' agricultural production in imo state, Nigeria
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 3), 272-283.
-
click to view the cite format
Abstract
The widespread use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications has become a common health seeking behavior among rural farm families in the society. This study seeks to examine the health effects of such behavior on rural farms and the cost implications of seeking behavioral treatment. A total number of 250 farm respondent was randomly selected from 10 communities in Imo State, Nigeria, covering the three Agricultural zones in the State. Questionnaire and oral discussion were used to elicit responses from the respondents. Percentages, means and standard deviation were used to interpret and analyze data. Results showed that the common over the counter medications use includes analgesics and antipyretics (98.0%), cough, cold, and respiratory medications (98%), pain relief (99.2%).. Commonly illness treatment include malaria and febrile conditions (98.8%), body pains (100.0%), headaches (96.4%), respiratory tract infections and cough (99.2%). The reasons for OTC use include limited access to clinics (84.0%), high cost of medical care (96.4), perceived urgency (95.6%), and immediate relief from illness to maintain farm labor (95.2%). Actual effects of OTC include; quick relief of symptoms (M = 2.56), reduced farm absenteeism (M = 2.61), reduced need for hospital visits (M = 2.50), long term health complication (M = 2.59), incomplete treatment of illness (M = 3.01), adverse drug reactions (M = 2.94), among others. OTC influence both farm productivity and labor availability by minimization of work absenteeism (M = 2.94), immediate response to health challenges (M = 3.10), making farm monitoring difficult (M = 2.96), leads to funds mismanagement (M = 3.04), leads to over-use-of family labour (M = 3.06).The following challenges occur lack of proper dosage knowledge (M = 2.64), risk of drug resistance (M=2.70), misdiagnosis of illness (M=2.57), while it is recommended that health education/awareness (M=2.54), improves access to primary health (M=2.61), monitoring and regulation of OTC moderation (M=2.81)should all be carried out.
Keywords
Over-the-counter, Drugs, Medications, Cost, Rural, Farm.
-
Full Article PDF (
20)
- View HTML Article
Copy Rights
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
