Primary Reasons for Not Attending Farmers\u27 Market. Do Market Features and Consumer Characteristics Matter?

The number of farmers’ markets has been growing, but consumer attendance does not appear to rise at the same rate. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate primary reasons for not attending. Specific objectives were: (1) describe the consumer characteristics of individuals who do not attend farmers’ markets (2) investigate the consumer characteristics and market amenities that influence a consumer’s choice to not attend a farmers market (3) estimate the variables that impact a consumer’s level of interest in subscribing to a CSA and (4) assess and estimate the relationship between consumer characteristics and their willingness to pay for one pound of various locally grown produce items. A mail survey was distributed to 2,530 consumers in the South- Central Kentucky region. Consumer responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial and ordered logit models, and a linear regression. Married, Caucasian males who live in a rural location and have a 2-year associate’s degree are likely to choose to not attend a farmers market. Most of these non-attendants are the primary shopper of their household. This finding was confirmed when the multinomial regression found that the only consumer characteristic that increases the probability of choosing to Never Attend a farmers market is the consumer’s primary shopper status (0.2274). A consumer’s education and their satisfaction with previous market experiences make them more likely to attend a market Very Frequently. The probabilities of these factors are .0463 and .1510, respectively. Consumers are less likely to subscribe to a CSA if they live in a rural area (0.1491). Yet, the likelihood of subscribing to a CSA is positively correlated with consumer interest in using an app to purchase fresh produce and household size. Respective marginal probabilities are 0.0472 and 0.0262. Finally, education is a consumer characteristic that increases a consumer’s willingness to pay for three of the four surveyed produce items, while age and marital status negatively impact their willingness to pay

Pattern of medication selling and self-medication practices: A study from Punjab, Pakistan

<div><p>Background</p><p>Access to medicines without prescription is a major contributing factor for self-medication practices. This study was designed to examine the ratio of non-prescribed medicines sales and self-medication practices in Punjab, Pakistan. This study also evaluates the reasons for self-medication within its communities.</p><p>Methods</p><p>An observational study was conducted in 272 systemically selected pharmacies to analyze medicines-related sales, with or without prescription. A cross-sectional survey was performed between June 2015 and November 2016. Consumers were interviewed about their self-medication practices.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of the pharmacies surveyed, 65.3% participated in the study. A total of 4348 medicines were purchased for self-medication by 3037 consumers (15.2% of all study participants), of which 873 (28.7%) participated in an interview. Majority (81.2%) medicine purchaser, (90.9%) interview participants, and (59.4%) drug users were male. On average, each community pharmacy sold 7.9 medicines without prescription each day, to an average of 5.5 customers. Many participants (28.9%) had matriculation in their formal education. The medicines most often sold for self-medication were analgesics and antipyretics(39.4%). More than 25% of participants reported fever symptoms and 47.8% assumed their illness was too trivial to consult a doctor. Media advertisements were the most common source of information for participants (46.7%).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Many types of medicines were often sold without prescription from community pharmacies. Self-medication was common practice for a wide range of illnesses. Pakistan also needs effective implementation of policies to monitor medication sales. Public education about rational medication and limits to advertising medicine are very necessary.</p></div