Household practices for storing and disposing of medications in a municipality in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Medicines, although essential for promoting and recovering health, contain potentially toxic substances that, when stored or discarded improperly, can pose risks to the environment health. This study aimed to evaluate the practices of medicines storage and disposal in households in the city of Niterói, RJ. A cross-sectional study was conducted covering households in all five regions of Niterói, with a representative sample of 290 residents. A structured questionnaire was used, and data were collected and managed through an electronic platform. The results showed that 44.5% of participants kept leftover medications stored at home, often without the proper safety measures. Regarding the disposal of expired or unused medications, most respondents (64.8%) discarded these products in household waste, while 12.4% disposed of them in the sewage system. Only 9.7% of the 290 respondents disposed of them correctly at designated collection sites. The inadequate practices of medication storage and disposal in Niterói, RJ highlight the urgency for educational interventions and initiatives to promote awareness in order to protect health and the environment.