Self-Medication as a Coping Strategy for Accessing Biomedical Treatment

Self-medication is influenced by socioeconomic and structural factors and is frequently used as a coping strategy in resource-constrained settings. In Mozambique, weaknesses in the public healthcare system and unrestricted access to medicines contribute to self-management of illness. This study aimed to analyse the sociocultural, economic, and structural factors influencing self-medication as a strategy for accessing biomedical treatment in the low-lying area of Xai-Xai City, Mozambique. A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted during the first half of 2025 in six urban and peri-urban neighbourhoods (Bairro A, Bairro B, Bairro 1, Bairro 2, Bairro 12, and Fenicelene) located in the low-lying area of Xai-Xai City, Gaza Province, Mozambique. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 36 key community informants, including neighbourhood secretaries, block leaders, and traditional healers, distributed across the six neighbourhoods. Data were collected through six focus group discussions and analysed using thematic content analysis with MAXQDA software. A total of 36 community informants participated. Most were aged 36–65 years (72.2%), female (61.1%), and had completed primary education (47.2%). Informal workers constituted the largest occupational group (66.7%). Regarding community roles, block leaders predominated (66.7%). Qualitative analysis revealed that self-medication was perceived as a pragmatic response to difficulties in accessing healthcare services. Key factors included the desire for autonomy in managing familiar symptoms, previous therapeutic experience, recommendations from family members, neighbours, and pharmacy workers, and the use of medicinal plants. These practices were facilitated by long waiting times, medicine stock-outs, shortages of healthcare professionals, transportation costs, and loss of daily income. Although participants acknowledged the risks associated with self-medication, including adverse drug reactions, drug–drug interactions, and the potential masking of serious illnesses, they considered self-medication to be a necessary practice under certain circumstances. Self-medication in the low-lying area of Xai-Xai City appears to be strongly associated with structural, economic, and sociocultural barriers to healthcare access. Intervention strategies should combine improvements in the availability and accessibility of healthcare services with community-based health education and enhanced regulation and oversight of medicine dispensing.