Why Peruvians buy medicines without a medical prescription: Regional patterns and associated factors from a National Survey

Abstract

Objetive. This study aimed to assesed the factors associated with PWP across Peru’s macroregions using data from the National Health User Satisfaction Survey 2016 (ENSUSALUD 2026). Methods. A secondary data analysis of the ENSUSALUD 2016 was conducted. Modified Poisson regression with linearized variances for complex survey designs was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), with 95% confidence intervals, to identify factors associated with self-medication across macroregions. Results. Self-medication was most frequent in the Eastern (82.3%). In the Northern, lower prevalence was associated with secondary (aPR: 0.83) and higher education (aPR: 0.80), affiliation with comprehensive health insurance (aPR: 0.85) or EsSalud (aPR: 0.86), purchasing antibiotics (aPR: 0.80) and knowledge of medication duration (aPR: 0.52-0.54). Higher prevalence was linked to private insurance (aPR: 1.21), being convalescent, retired or a domestic worker (aPR: 1.91) and knowledge of drug dosage (aPR: 4.50–4.78). Conclusions. Regional variations across Central, Southern, Eastern and Lima Metropolitana reflected sociodemographic and knowledge differences, underscoring the need for region-specific interventions to promote safe and rational medicine use.