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Assessment of Self-Medication Practices and its Associated Factors among First-Year Medical Students at Kampala International University Western Campus

Jemimah Daudah

Faculty of Clinical  Medicine and Dentistry Kampala International University, Western Campus Uganda.

ABSTRACT

Self-medication in Uganda is becoming alarming and 7 out of every 10 Ugandan students practice self-medication to assess self-medication practices and its associated factors among first-year medical students of KIU₋WC Bushenyi district western Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 196 registered first-year medical students of KIU-WC who consented to participate anonymously in the study. Data was collected  from them with the help of questionnaires which were coded and entered in SPSS version 25 for analysis. Data was then presented in form tables. The majority 90(45.9%) were between the ages of 21 and 24, the majority 72 (36.5%) were Catholics, and the majority 96(56.5%) were males. The prevalence of self-medication was     98.5%. Many 95 (49.2%) got information about self-medication from family and friends, that the majority 86 (44.6%) used strong pain relievers to self-medicate, and that pharmacies/drug stores were the most common source of drugs used in self-medication, as suggested by 143 (74.1%). The majority of 134 (69.4%) asked someone before self-medicating, with pharmacists being the most frequently questioned 60 (31.1%). Finally, many 99 (51.3%) of those respondents had        no idea whether the drugs they purchased could treat their condition. Many 129 (65.8%) self-medicate only for minor medical conditions, the majority 129 (65.8%) say they get better when they self-medicate, many 72 (36.7%) say it is cheap, and the majority 85 (43.4%) say it is convenient. Of the 193 participants who have ever self-medicated, 62 (32.1%) experienced side effects from the drugs they self-medicated with, and the most common side effect was an allergic reaction, as reported by 26/62 (41.9%). The drugs that caused the most side effects were strong pain relievers and antimalarials, as indicated by 20/62 (32.3%) for each category of drugs. The prevalence of self-medication among first-year medical students at KIUWC Bushenyi in western Uganda is high. The common source of information were friends and family, analgesics or painkillers were commonly used drugs and they commonly asked pharmacists before self-medication. The factors associated with self-medication include being 21-24 years, being male, having easy access to drugs or cheap drugs, prior experience with the illness, medical knowledge as well as self-belief in drugs used.

Keywords: Self-medication, First-year medical students, Pharmacists, Drugs, pain relievers and antimalarials.

INTRODUCTION

Self-medication can be defined as getting and consuming drugs without the guidance of a physician for diagnosis, treatment, or supervision of the treatment [1]. It involves obtaining medication without a prescription and taking medicines on the advice of and from friends and relatives. Self-medication is common in both developed and developing countries but higher in developing countries, due to a wider increase of drug availability without prescription [2]. Self-medication with antimicrobial agents (antibiotics or antimalarials) is common globally with the prevalence differing from country to country [3] Self-medication is mostly experienced in developing countries [2]. If self-medication is practised correctly, it has a positive impact on individuals and health care systems. It also allows patients to take responsibility, build confidence to manage their own health and save time spent waiting for a doctor, and it may help to decrease healthcare costs [1]. Nevertheless, self-medication practice is highly prone to inappropriate use and has its own drawbacks resulting in wastage of resources, increased resistance to pathogens, and increased adverse reactions [4] In France, 80% of the population uses self-medication and 20% of the population suffers from rheumatic diseases [5]. In the survey conducted among fin final-medical students in Slovenia, 94.1% of students stated that they self-medicated [2]. Whereas a survey done in West Bengal, India among undergraduate medical school students indicated that 57% reported self-medicating using frequent drugs like antibiotics [31%], analgesics [23%], antipyretics [18%], and antihelmintic [4%] [6]. A meta-analysis by Montgomery et al. which included 27 published studies from different countries showed that the prevalence of self-medication among medical students and healthcare professionals was ranging from 12 to 99% [7] In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a wide range of therapeutic options, ranging from modern medicine to traditional medicine, religious cults or healing prayer, and self-medication. In this wide range, self-medication occupies an important part for social, economic, and psychological reasons [8]. The existing data mainly concern the overall self-medication rate in sub-Saharan Africa shows that it varies from 11.9% to 75.7% [9]. A study carried out in Meket District, Northern Ethiopia showed that the overall prevalence of self-medication was found to be 35.9% and the factors associated with self-medication practices included unmarried status, previous experience of self-medication, accessibility of pharmacies, peer/family pressure and presence of medication at home [10] In East Africa, though efforts have shown, there is limited knowledge about self-medication and its implications. Basing on the study of people’s knowledge, attitude and practices about self-medication and its implications in Ilala municipality. In Dar es Salaam Kenya in 2013, the prevalence of self-medication was found to be 68.8% and 71.5% for under five years old children and for persons aged 5 years and above respectively despite the negative attitude towards the practice. Community pharmacies were found to be the major source of medicines used for self-medication. Thus, 80% (12) of the males self-medicated less than 5 years old child while for females it was 71.6%. Thus, females are nearly two times more likely to self-medicate their children than males [4] According to the study of Patterns and Predictors of Self-Medication in Northern Uganda in 2014, this study found that a high proportion (75.7%) of the respondents practised antimicrobial self-medication. Fever, headache, lack of appetite and body weakness were the disease symptoms most treated through self-medication (30.3%). The commonly self-medicated antimicrobials were coated (27.3%), amoxicillin (21.7%), metronidazole (12.3%), and cotrimoxazole (11.6%). Self-prescription (46.5%) and drug shop attendants (57.6%) mainly initiated drug use among respondents. Furthermore, a high proportion (76%) of respondents reported that antimicrobial self-medication had associated risks such as wastage of money (42.1%), drug resistance (33.2%), and masking symptoms of underlying disease (15.5%). Predictors of self-medication with antimicrobial agents included gender, drug knowledge, drug leaflets, advice from friends, previous experience, long waiting time, and distance to the health facility. Despite knowledge of associated risks, the use of self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in mana the cement of disease symptoms is a common practice in post-conflict northern Uganda [2].

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the prevalence of self-medication among first-year medical students at KIUWC Bushenyi in western Uganda is high. The common source of information were friends and family, analgesics or painkillers were commonly used drugs and they commonly asked pharmacists before self-medication. The factors associated with self-medication include being 21-24 years, being male, having easy access to drugs or cheap drugs, prior experience with the illness, medical knowledge as well as self-belief in drugs used.

Recommendations

Basing on the study findings the researcher recommends the following

  • The university to organize education programs for students on the effects of self-medication.
  • The government to limit access to drugs and restrictions when establishing drug shops and
  • There is a need for Drug shops and pharmacy workers to follow professional ethics.

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Jemimah Daudah (2023). Assessment of Self-Medication Practices and its Associated Factors among First-Year Medical Students at Kampala International University Western Campus.IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES 8(3) 59-72. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/2023/10.2.1414

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