Self-Medication Prevalence and Factors Associated with Knowledge and Attitude Towards Self-Medication Among Undergraduate Health Science Students at GAMBY Medical and Business College, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Reports indicate that health science students are among the frontline of self-medication practitioners. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the self-medication (SM) practice and associated factors with knowledge and attitude of undergraduate health science students at GAMBY Medical and Business College, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire from May to July, 2022. A stratified random sampling method was applied to collect the data. The collected data were checked, and exported into SPSS 26. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were performed to determine the results and the associated factors. Variables with p < 0.05 were regarded as significant. Results: 301 students (31 medicine, 163 pharmacy, and 107 medical laboratory students) responded (99% response rate). 68.1% of the respondents had practiced SM at least once within the last six months. 58.8% had good knowledge, while 55.5% have a positive attitude towards SM. Headache (33.7%) and cough (29.8%) were the primary disease conditions for SM. Analgesics (37.1%) and antimicrobials (29.8%) are most frequently self-consumed agents. Being a medicine student (AOR = 3.872; 95% CI: (1.263-11.866); p = 0.018), not having health insurance (AOR = 2.431; 95% CI: (1.383-4.274); p = 0.002), and not having a known medical illness (AOR = 2.241; 95% CI: (1.226-4.127); p = 0.010) were independently associated with good knowledge. While, living in an urban area was significantly associated with a positive attitude (AOR = 3.593;); p = 0.004). Conclusion:The SM rate in GAMBY is significantly higher. Besides, not more than half the students had acceptable knowledge and attitude towards SM. The college and the surrounding regulatory authorities should consider ways of controlling and recapitalizing SM practices by the students.

Comparison of knowledge, attitude, practice and predictors of self-medication with antibiotics among medical and non-medical students in Tanzania

“…Several studies in China, Ethiopia, Nepal, Pakistan, Europe, and the United States have described antibiotic-related behaviors among medical students. The SM rate ranges from 30% to 80%, and the antibiotic SM rates range from 19% to 100% ( Haltiwanger et al, 2001 ; Pulcini et al, 2015 ; Scaioli et al, 2015 ; Ali et al, 2016 ; Banerjee et al, 2016 ; Fejza et al, 2016 ; Zhu et al, 2016 ; Hu et al, 2018 ; Tesfaye et al, 2020 ; Akande-Sholabi and Ajamu, 2021 ; Banda et al, 2021 ; Kifle et al, 2021 ; Nabi et al, 2022 ; Siraj et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Several studies have described antibiotic-related behaviors among medical students in China, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, Europe, and the United States. The SMA ranges from 19% to 100% ( Haltiwanger et al, 2001 ; Pulcini et al, 2015 ; Scaioli et al, 2015 ; Ali et al, 2016 ; Banerjee et al, 2016 ; Fejza et al, 2016 ; Zhu et al, 2016 ; Hu et al, 2018 ; Tuyishimire et al, 2019 ; Tesfaye et al, 2020 ; Akande-Sholabi and Ajamu, 2021 ; Nabi et al, 2022 ; Siraj et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Many studies have reported SMA frequencies, poor SMA practices such as frequent dosage or antibiotic changes, and SMA risk factors primarily related to sex, age, education level, antibiotic knowledge, and income; however, these risk factors vary across populations and countries and are thus controversial, and SMA practices of risk populations are rare ( Haltiwanger et al, 2001 ; Pan et al, 2012 ; Pulcini et al, 2015 ; Scaioli et al, 2015 ; Ali et al, 2016 ; Banerjee et al, 2016 ; Fejza et al, 2016 ; Zhu et al, 2016 ; Hu et al, 2018 ; Tuyishimire et al, 2019 ; Tesfaye et al, 2020 ; Akande-Sholabi and Ajamu, 2021 ; Hsu, 2021 ; Nabi et al, 2022 ; Siraj et al, 2022 ).…”

“…According to previous studies, college students have a very low proclivity to seek health professionals’ health-related information, treatment, or other healthcare services ( Hsu, 2021 ). Owing to increased social media influence, students have relied on the Internet for health information rather than consulting healthcare providers in recent years ( Haltiwanger et al, 2001 ; Pulcini et al, 2015 ; Scaioli et al, 2015 ; Ali et al, 2016 ; Banerjee et al, 2016 ; Fejza et al, 2016 ; Zhu et al, 2016 ; Hu et al, 2018 ; Tuyishimire et al, 2019 ; Tesfaye et al, 2020 ; Akande-Sholabi and Ajamu, 2021 ; Nabi et al, 2022 ; Siraj et al, 2022 ). This increases the likelihood of college students using SMA to treat self-diagnosed illnesses ( Tesfaye et al, 2020 ).…”

Concern on Skin Lightening Product Safety: Level of Awareness and Associated Factors Among Female Users in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia

“…Knowledge score above the median score was considered as “favorable awareness”, while a score below the median was considered as “non-favorable awareness”. 18 …”