Abstract:

Background: Acne is the skin disease of hair follicles of the face, chest, back that affect most teen agers during puberty characterized by comedones, inflammatory papule, and pustule. Acne is common among 95% and 83% of teenage of boy and girls respectively and affect 85%, 8% and 3% of people aged between 12-25, 25-34 and 35-44 years, respectively. Although frequently associated with the adolescent population, the condition is also prevalent and persistent in adulthood.

Objective: To determine levels of knowledge, treatment practice and reasons for self-medication of acne secondary school in Nyamagana District, Mwanza.

Methodology: A descriptive cross section study was conducted among the secondary student at Nyamagana. Mwanza where by total of 360 students from 8 secondary school were participate in the study. The sample size was collected by choosing the 45 students from each school.

Results: A total 360 responded participated in the study, the knowledge of acne among student was found 73.6% have good knowledge about acne. Self-medication practice was found to be 50.8% common regarding to the treatment of acne from advice from other people (family/friend).

Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge among the students about acne in Nyamagana district was good, although there were some knowledge inadequacies, also study show that most of student prefer use of self-medication in treating acne and few consult the health care practioner. The most common sources of self-medication were due to advice from their friend or family.

Recommendation: Community-based health awareness programs on acne are needed to increase the awareness and to prevent the malpractices done by acne patients. Also encouragement of proper treatment of acne among the student should be improved in order to ensure the rational and proper use of medicine during treatment of acne.