Prevalence of self-medication and associated factors among undergraduate students at St. Augustine University, Mwanza, Tanzania

Kateile, Sylivanus CUHAS/BP/3000310/T/15

Prevalence of self-medication and associated factors among undergraduate students at St. Augustine University, Mwanza, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS - Bugando] Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz ©2020 - vii; 30 Pages Includes Refferences and Appendices

Abstract:

Background: Self-medication is an important for health authorities at globally level. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of self-medication and associated factors among undergraduate students at SAUT.

Methodology: In a cross-sectional study, 343 undergraduate students of were recruited through multistage random sampling method. Data collection was done by researcher-made questionnaire, filled in Microsoft excel spread sheet and transferred to SPSS software for analysis.

Result: Of the 343 students, prevalence of self-medication was 233 (67.9%), among them 64.2% got drugs for self-medication from pharmacy/ADDO outlets information the medication from the pharmacy and 34.95% have faced complications of self-medication. The main reason for self-medication among students were previous experience of illness and symptoms 88 (25.7%), non-seriousness of the illness 24(7.0%) and less expensiveness 22 (6.1%)

Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication among the SAUT students was high, it is suggested to provide educational programs on the adverse effects of self-medication, and appropriate measures to control and prevent easy access to medications.


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