Sources of access to medication and its use in the rural area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2016: a cross-sectional population-based study

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of medication use, sources of access, and associated factors among rural residents in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 with adults >= 18 years old. Participants reported on medication use and sources of access to medication in the month prior to the interview. Poisson regression was used. Results: Among the 1,519 respondents, 54.7% (95%CI 48.7;60.5) used some form of medication and 3.3% (95%CI 2.4;4.5) stopped taking necessary medication. Higher prevalence of use occurred in: women (PR=1.23 - 95%CI 1.12;1.34), the elderly (PR=2.36 - 95%CI 2.05;2.73), people with poorer self-perceived health (PR=1.29 - 95%CI 1.14;1.46) and people with a higher number of diseases (PR=2.37 - 95%CI 2.03;2.77). A total of 14.0% (95%CI 11.2;17.4) obtained medication exclusively from the Brazilian National Health System, prevalence of which was higher among those who self-reported themselves to be non-white and from lower economic classification. Conclusion: A low number stopped taking medication they needed to take. Use of free-of-charge medication was greater in groups with lower income.