Storage practices in the developing world: A survey of Nigerian households

Proper drug storage is essential, especially in tropical climates. Failure to do so can result in substrength products which can cause treatment failures. Little research has been done in Africa to examine this aspect of healthcare. The objectives of this study were to determine the pattern of drug storage at home in some communities in Nigeria, and to assess the conditions under which medicines are kept. A survey of households in some communities in Edo State, Nigeria, was undertaken using a validated questionnaire. Information on types of medication, dosage form, cost, source, and quantity stored in households, and reasons for using a particular storage facility were collected. Data were entered into Excel spreadsheet and sorted based on the research theme. Thereafter, the frequency distributions of the responses were determined. Of the 497 respondents surveyed, 209 (42.1%) indicated that they kept a total of 490 drugs on hand in their homes. The average number of drugs on hand among those who reported having them was 2.3±1.3 (median 2), the cost of which ranged from 10-2000 naira (USD $0.07-$13.33). Analgesics (43.7%), vitamins and nutrients (19.7%), and anti-malarial drugs (11.8%) were the most frequently stored classes of medicine. A majority of household medicines were stored in cellophane bag (36.9%), followed by closed cupboard or drawer (25.9%), and household containers (9.6%). The study reveals the frequency of household stored medicines in Nigerian communities, which often were kept in suboptimal conditions. The implications of this practice along with recommendations for appropriate behaviors are discussed.