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H E A L T H C A R E D E M A N D V O L U M E III

1.2 HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN RELATION TO ACUTE ILLNESS/DISABILITY

1.2.1 Findings
In this section, we identified people who experienced health problems within two weeks
prior to the date of the interview. This corresponded to 27.5% (95%; CI, 26.3 – 28.6) of the
total respondents (Table 1.4). This group of respondents was asked what the action was
taken for their health problem. Around 46.0% (95% CI, 44.3 - 47.8) of those experienced
health problems reported to have self-medicated, 40.6% (95% CI, 38.9 – 42.4) seek
treatment from healthcare providers, 27.2% (95% CI, 25.6 – 28.9) getting advice from
pharmacists, 8.9% (95% CI, 8.0 – 10.0) getting advice from someone other than healthcare
provider and 2.4% (95% CI, 2.0 – 3.0) reported that they did anything else besides the
above. (The results were represented in Figure 1.1).

SELF MEDICATE
Yes, 46

SEEK TREATMENT FROM HCP
Yes, 46 Yes, 40.6

ADVICE FROM PHARMACIST
Yes, 27.2

ADVICE FROM OTHERS
Yes 27.5 Yes, 8.9

OTHERS
% EVER EXPERIENCED HEALTH Yes, 2.4

PROBLEMS/INJURY FOR THE
PAST 2 WEEKS (N=29460)

Note : 1 HCP ; Healthcare Provider TYPE OF CARE CHOSEN (%)

Figure 1.1:
Prevalence of respondents with illness in the preceding two weeks to the interview and
chosen type of care

1.2.1.1 Self-medicate

A total of 3251 respondents, 46.0% (95% CI, 44.3 – 47.8) of those who
experienced health problem within two weeks prior to interview reported they
self-medicated (Table 1.5 and Table 1.6).

It was highest in Sarawak (54.5%; 95% CI, 47.8 - 61.1), followed by Pulau Pinang
(53.1%; 95% CI, 43.1 - 62.9), and Johor (52.0%; 95% CI, 47.1 - 56.8).There was no

NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY 2015 18 MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA