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ABSTRACT
Background: Self-medication is like a double edged sword, at one end reducing the cost and burden of healthcare, while on the other end lies its potential for abuse and its numerous potential adverse effect. Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the perception, prevalence and factors affecting self-medication among nursing students in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, with a view to providing evidence-based information on interventions which will reduce self-medication practices among nursing students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 respondents selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was obtained using a structured intervieweradministered questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27.0. Univariate and bivariate analysis was done. Results: The mean age ± S.D of respondents was 20.31 ± 2.32 years. Self-medication was highly prevalent, with 97.5% of respondents having practiced self-medication, and 91.9% reported doing so in the last 12 months. Common reasons for self-medication included headache (86.8%) and fever (73.6%), while painkillers (79.3%) and antimalarials (75.6%) were the most frequently used drugs. A significant relationship was observed between age (p = 0.043) and monthly income (p = 0.044) with the prevalence of self-medication. Perception of self-medication was predominantly positive, with 98.6% of respondents having a good perception, and a statistically significant association between class and perception (p = 0.004). Conclusion/Recommendation: Self-medication is highly prevalent among nursing students in the University of Benin driven by factors such as easy access to medication, financial constraint and system inefficiencies despite a good understanding of its risk underscoring the need for targeted interventions. Keywords: Self-medication, perception, prevalence, factors.
