Table 4 Respondents’ practices and attitudes concerning unused and expired medication disposal
From: Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among general public in Kabul
Questions | Â | N | % |
|---|---|---|---|
Did any quantity of purchase medicine remain unused at your home? | Yes | 287 | 95.3 |
No | 14 | 4.7 | |
What do you do with the unused medicines? | Throw away in household garbage | 43 | 14.3 |
Donate to hospital | 29 | 9.6 | |
Give to friends or relatives | 4 | 1.3 | |
Return to medical stores | 64 | 21.3 | |
Keep at home until expired | 157 | 52.2 | |
Flush unused medications in toilet or sink | 4 | 1.3 | |
What do you do with the expired medicines? | Throw away in household garbage | 234 | 77.7 |
Flush expired medications in toilet or sink | 36 | 12 | |
Give to friends or relatives | 4 | 1.3 | |
Return to medical store | 22 | 7.3 | |
Don’t know | 5 | 1.7 | |
Who is responsible to create awareness for proper disposal of unused and expired medicines? | Government | 183 | 60.8 |
Pharmaceutical Industries | 36 | 12 | |
Public | 17 | 5.6 | |
Pharmacist | 65 | 21.6 | |
Improper disposal of unused and expired medicines can affect the environment and health. | Yes | 295 | 98 |
Don’t Know | 6 | 2 |