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. 2025 Feb 27:13:1516809.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1516809. eCollection 2025.

Disposal practice and determinants of unused medicines among the general public in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Lamrot Yohannes  1 , Addisu Afrassa Tegegne  2 , Gebremariam Genet  2 , Liknaw Workie Limenh  3 , Abdulwase Mohammed Seid  4 , Tekletsadik Tekleslassie Alemayehu  5 , Wondim Ayenew  5 , Wudneh Simegn  5
Affiliations

Disposal practice and determinants of unused medicines among the general public in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Lamrot Yohannes et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: The inappropriate disposal of unused medicines poses significant risks to public health and the environment. Gondar City, located in Northwest Ethiopia, is not exempt from this problem. However, little is known about the current disposal practices and the determinants influencing those practices in this specific context.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the disposal practices of unused medicines among the general public in Gondar City and to identify the factors that influence these practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data from the general public in Gondar City from July 30 to August 30, 2023. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire to gather information on disposal practices and determinants that could influence disposal practices.

Results: A total of 845 respondents were involved in this study with a response rate of 93%. 56.9% of the respondents had poor disposal practices. Lower educational status [AOR = 2.76 (CI: 1.59, 4.79)]; p < 0.01, having a chronic disease [AOR = 1.79 (CI: 1.22, 2.64)]; p < 0.05, and poor knowledge toward disposal practices [AOR = 1.56 (CI: 1.12, 2.18)]; p < 0.05 were identified as significant determinants influencing poor disposal practices.

Conclusion: There is an improper disposal practice of unused medicines in the study area. Lower educational status, having a chronic disease, and poor knowledge toward disposal practices were found to be significant factors. The finding underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve the safe disposal of unused medicines in Gondar City. Comprehensive educational campaigns should be launched to increase public awareness about the risks of improper disposal and promote safe disposal practices. The establishment of accessible and convenient disposal facilities or return programs should be prioritized.

Keywords: Gondar; Northwest Ethiopia; determinants; disposal; unused medicines.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic presentation of the sampling procedure for selecting study participants, Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023 (n = 845).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Disposal practice of study participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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