Home drug disposal: an analysis of practice in the metropolitan region of Belém/Pará

Abstract

Objective: To analyze how the domestic disposal of medications is practiced at
Belém’s city and the extent of the population’s concern and knowledge about the risks of it. Methods: A study of transversal analytical approach, combined with a qualitative and quantitative line nature was performed through an investigative application regarding the population’s knowledge over the risks of an inappropriate disposal of medications, their awareness on applicable laws as well as the influence of self-medication on the pharmaceutical residues’ accumulation. The study was comprised with socio-epidemiological interviews applied, randomly, on medication’s users throughout public locations of both metropolitan and peripheral regions of Belém’s city (Pará). This research fits the standards of the ethic committee on interviews. Results: The outcome showed that 98% of the interviewed own medicines at their houses, 83.45% do not understand the real risks of the inadequate disposal of these medicines and 91.18% of the interrogated perform this improper disposal (p <0.0001), discarding it chiefly on common waste (89.9%). Conclusion: We have observed a lack of understanding by the population of Belém’s city metropolitan area concerning the discard of overdue and/or not utilized medications, demonstrating the crucial need of these individuals’ awareness by means of an environment education.