Self-medication Practice and Associated Factors among Private Health Sciences Students in Gondar Town, North West Ethiopia. A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Self-medication is the most common practice worldwide and it may lead to irrational use of drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication practice and its associated factors among health science students. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 health science students in Gondar town. The data regarding self-medication practice and its associated factors were collected using a face-to-face interview on a structured questionnaire. SPSS −24 was used for data analysis and explained with univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with self-medication practice (sex, age, religion, marital status, residence, department, year of study, monthly income, access to pharmacy, and peer/family pressure). A total of 554 students responded to the questionnaire with a response rate of 92.3%. Out of 554 respondents, 78.2% were practiced self-medication. Headache/fever 37.88% (n = 164) was reported as the most common complaint to practice self-medication. Among the reasons for self-medication practice, similarity of symptoms with past illness 33.49% (n = 145) was the most frequently reported. In current study, Females (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.55, 6.25), Muslim followers (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.30, 5.91), Protestant followers (AOR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.38, 13.07), pharmacy students (AOR = 3.72, 95% CI = 1.97, 9.30), clinical nursing students (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.87, 14.48), monthly income (>500ETB) (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.12, 5.56), distance of health institution (<30 min) (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.39, 5.61), and accessibility of pharmacy (AOR = 4.85, 95% CI = 2.08, 11.29) were the independent predictors of self-medication practice. Self-medication is common in health science students in Gondar town. Health professionals should educate students on the risks and benefits of self-medication to encourage responsible self-medication. National guidelines on medicine access should be developed and strong measures should be implemented to halt the selling of medications without a proper prescription.

Antibiotic Practices, Perceptions and Self-Medication Among Patients at a National Referral Hospital in Uganda

“…This was in contrast to a similar study in Nigeria which reported that Christians were more likely to self-medicate. 25 Among health sciences students in Ethiopia, both being Muslim and Protestant (Anglican) were significantly associated with self-medication 26 and similar findings have been reported among pregnant women in Ethiopia. 27 While it is challenging to find plausible explanations for this consistent finding, a qualitative study may provide an insight on how the various religious practices influence health-seeking behaviour, particularly self-medication.…”

Over the counter drugs and self-medication: A worldwide paranoia and a troublesome situation in India during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…This has been defined by the WHO and included in one of the significant concerns in both developing and developed countries as indicated by various studies, especially in the wake of COVID-19 [ 21 , 22 ]. In the wake of social media becoming more accessible than the healthcare itself, misinformation regarding medication, pathophysiology of the disease, treatment, and prevention has led to public confusion and panic [ 23 ]. It has been documented that along with an ongoing pandemic, there have been several small endemic diseases like mucormycosis, and an equally disturbing infodemic going on in the world [ [24] , [25] , [26] ].…”

La automedicación en jóvenes en el contexto de la COVID-19

“…However, fear, the saturation of hospitals and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 5 has encouraged us to carry out this practice more frequently and even increased the prevalence in the young population 6 . Since they justified the practice by diverse factors among them; 33.49% of the young people relate the similarity of the symptoms to past illnesses, 19.17% perceived the illness as something mild, and 18.24%, from the economic aspect, self-medication was cheaper for them 7 . In addition, in Peru, at the beginning of the pandemic, kits were distributed to treat mild coronavirus disease; Therefore, when some were hospitalized for the disease, they reported having self-medicated with ivermectin that they had given to their relatives 8 .…”

“…Sin embargo, el miedo, la saturación de hospitales y la afectación económica por la pandemia COVID-19 5 ha incentivado a realizar con más frecuencia esta práctica e inclusive aumentó la prevalencia en la población joven 6 . Puesto que, justificaban la práctica por diversos factores entre ellos; el 33,49 % de los jóvenes relacionan la similitud de los síntomas con enfermedades pasadas, el 19,17 % percibían la enfermedad como algo leve, el 18,24 % desde el aspecto económico les resultaba más barato la automedicación 7 . Además, en Perú, al inicio de la pandemia se distribuyó kits para tratar la enfermedad leve por coronavirus; por lo que algunos cuando eran hospitalizados por la enfermedad, referían haberse automedicado con ivermectina que les habían entregado a sus familiares 8 .…”