Concurrent Utilization and Medication Adherence of Arsenicum album 30C as Prophylactic Against COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional, Community-Based Study

Background: Arsenicum album 30C was recommended by the Government of India as a COVID-19 prophylactic. During the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) program from September 2021 to August 2022, 3.5 million people received Arsenicum album 30C. This study aimed to estimate its utilization in the general population as a prophylactic. Methods: A multi-centric pan-India cross-sectional study on drug utilization involved 23,101 participants from 23 cities between September and November 2022. To reduce recall bias, only those who received the medicine within the last month were enrolled. Health workers randomly approached the public for consent. The main outcome was adherence to Arsenicum album 30C over the past month, self-reported by participants. Those who took all three scheduled doses were classified as having perfect adherence; those who took one or two doses had partial adherence; and those who took none were categorized as having no adherence. Results: Out of 23,101 participants, 79.89% ( n = 18,457) showed perfect medication adherence by completing the three-dose prophylactic schedule. Partial or no adherence was seen in 16.81% ( n = 3,885) and 3.28% ( n = 759), respectively. The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, adjusting for confounding factors, indicated that participants aged 18 to 40 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.35 (1.20–1.52)], those from the upper socioeconomic class [aOR 1.71 (1.19–2.48)], and COVID-19 vaccinated individuals [aOR 1.64 (1.35–2.01), p = 0.0001] had higher perfect adherence. The main reason for non-adherence was forgetfulness [52.08% ( n = 2,419)]. Conclusion: This study indicates high adherence to the three-dose regimen among COVID-19 vaccinated individuals, emphasizing the effectiveness of government distribution programs in promoting public health compliance. Future research should examine longitudinal trends, address unintentional non-adherence, and explore homeopathy’s role in public health.