Armazenamento domiciliar de medicamentos em uma população ribeirinha de Coari – Amazonas, Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: Home medicine storage is a global phenomenon involving the keeping of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in the domestic environment for future or immediate use. This practice is influenced by multiple factors, but is most often driven by population insecurity regarding the continuous availability of health services and/or access to medicines, especially in remote areas. Objective: To analyze the profile and conditions of home medicine storage among the riverside population of the Itapeuá Community, Coari - Amazonas, Brazil. Method: This is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach, part of a larger project titled "Health and Therapeutic Practices among Riverside Dwellers of Coari-Amazonas," conducted from October to November 2024. Data collection was performed using structured forms applied to heads of households, with the household as the unit of analysis. Variables collected included sociodemographic, behavioral, medication data, drug conditions, storage practices, and storage locations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The larger project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Amazonas (Opinion No. 79888324.6.0000.5020). Results: The sample consisted of 76 heads of households (86.4% response rate). Home medication stocks were observed in 77.6% (n=59) of the residences. In the pharmacological inventory, 315 items were recorded, averaging 5.4 medications per household. The predominant therapeutic classes were: Alimentary tract and metabolism (23.5%); Nervous System (analgesics, psychoanaleptics, psycholeptics, and antiepileptics) (21.0%); and Antibacterials for systemic use (12.4%). Regarding storage location, the bedroom (58.1%) and the kitchen (41.6%) predominated. Critical storage non-conformities were identified: 75.1% of the items lacked package inserts, 31.1% were without primary packaging, and 17.0% were expired. Furthermore, medications were exposed to deleterious environmental factors such as heat (35.9%), humidity (25.7%), and light (22.2%), although most (85.4%) were kept out of reach of children and animals. Conclusion: Home medicine storage is widely practiced by the investigated riverside dwellers, but occurs under precarious conditions. Exposure to environmental factors and the loss of essential information (absence of inserts and packaging) compromise drug integrity and patient safety. Given this scenario, it is urgent to implement health education and nursing care strategies that promote rational use and safe storage of medications in this region