THE AGGREGATE IMPACT OF SELF-MEDICATION ON THE HEALTH OF URBAN POPULATIONS

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the aggregate impact of self-medication on the health of urban populations, adopting an integrative literature review as a methodological framework. This review was conducted using databases such as Scielo, PubMed, and BVS, with a time frame from 2021 to 2026. The main results demonstrated a prevalence of self-medication between 35% and 72% in urban populations, highlighting the indiscriminate use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, which increase the risks of iatrogenesis and masking of serious pathologies. It was evidenced that the irrational use of antibiotics accelerates antimicrobial resistance, generating a collective biosecurity problem. Furthermore, it was identified that the elderly are the most vulnerable to severe drug interactions. It is concluded that self-medication significantly burdens the public health system through avoidable hospitalizations and loss of therapeutic efficacy. Mitigating this scenario requires strengthening primary care, rigorous oversight of the pharmaceutical trade, and promoting health literacy, aiming to reorient the behavior of urban populations towards the rational use of health technologies and the prioritization of professional diagnosis over digital self-diagnosis.