Background: Self -medication is a major global public health problem including India. High consultation fee and burden of avoidable investigation are the main causes of self-medication. Self-medication has advantages of being economical, convenient, time saving and reduces the burden on health care system for minor illnesses. However, there are certain sideeffects of self- medication i.e. inappropriate usage of antibiotics leading to drug resistance, wastage of resources and adverse drug reactions. Methods: Present study was a cross sectional study among the selected population in urban in urban field practice area of AJIMS & RC, Mangaluru. Face to face interviews were conducted using the validated questionnaire. Results: A total of 472 heads of families were included in the study. High prevalence (62.7%) of selfmedication was observed among the study subjects. Self-medication was mainly used for common minor problems (72.4%), while antipyretics were the commonest (71.4%) drug used. Self-medication was found to be more among professionals, those who had higher educational qualification and belonged to higher socio-economic strata. Pharmacies were the most common source of procurement of drugs. Conclusion: The study brought out high prevalence of self-medication.

Keywords: Self-medication; Pharmacy; Professionals; Socio-economic strata.