Magnitude and Factors Associated with Self-Medication Practices among University Students: The Case of Arsi University, College of Health Science, Asella, Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Survey Based Study
Background: Self-medication is the selection and use of medicines by
individuals to treat self- recognized illnesses or symptoms without any medical
supervision. It resulted in wastage of resources, increases in resistance of
pathogens, and causes health hazards such as adverse drug reactions, prolonged
suffering and drug dependence. Despite this fact, studies on the subject matter
indicated that health science students continued to practice & recommend
self-medication to society. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to
estimate the prevalence of self-medication among students of Arsi University
College of Health Science and investigate factors associated with it. Methods:
A cross-sectional quantitative study with three months illness recall was
conducted in Arsi University College of Health Science students from January to
February 2015. Data were collected randomly from each department using
self-administered questionnaires. Data entry was made using Epi-Info version
3.5.2 and analysis was done using SPSS IBM version 20. Results: From a total of
575 questionnaires distributed, 548 questionnaires with a response rate of
95.30% were collected back assessed as complete, 70.8% (388/575) reported at
least one episode of an illness during three months prior to the day of the
questionnaire, and 77.10% (299/388) of them accessed to and practiced
self-medication during the study period. Students reported for the study period
commonly perceived illnesses such as headache 169 (46.50%), gastrointestinal
disease 102 (34.10%) and respiratory tract infection 95 (31.80%) accessed
mainly antibiotics 179 (59.90%) and analgesics 143 (47.80%) mostly from drug
retail outlets 184 (61.50%). The odds of being female university student was 2
fold accessed self-medication than their counter part males with Adjusted Odds
Ratio (AOR) 1.84 with 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01 - 3.34, p = 0.046. With regards to field of
studies, students of midwifery were 3 folds accessed self-medication than their
counter part students of medicine (AOR 2.78; 95%CI = 1.03, 7.39, p = 0.043). Those students who accepted
self-medication for low income segment of the population 2 folds accessed self-medication than their counter part who
disagree (AOR 1.76; 95%CI = 1.02, 3.06, p = 0.04). The major reasons indicated for self-medication by respondents were
perceived mildness of their illness 132 (44.1%), poor quality of routine health
care services 81 (27.1%) and it saves their time 60 (20.3%). Most respondents
had a positive attitude towards practicing self-medication as especially, they
believed a prospective health professionals & low income segments of the
populations have a right to practice self-medication (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Significant numbers of students were
self-medicated in this study with antibiotics as major accessed drugs. Being
female was significantly associated with self-medication. Conducting tailored
behavioral change communication by the health authorities, universities and
other stakeholders is recommended.
Cite this paper
Bekele, S. A. , Argaw, M. D. and Yalew, A. W. (2016). Magnitude and Factors Associated with Self-Medication Practices among University Students: The Case of Arsi University, College of Health Science, Asella, Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Survey Based Study. Open Access Library Journal, 3, e2738. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102738.
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