ABSTRACT

Self-medication and antibiotics dispensing without prescription in drug retail outlets are irrational practices that can accelerate the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Self-medication is an important concern at the global level, and it is an important issue in the health area. This study was carried out on reasons, prevalence and perceived effects of self-medication and over-the-counter dispensing antibiotics. This study used descriptive cross-sectional non-experimental design. Simple random method was used to select 352 respondents. Questionnaire was used to collect data. The data collected was analysed using descriptive method. Chi - square was used to test hypothesis. Data analyzed showed that the majority of the respondents 266 (75.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge of self-medication and over-the-counter dispensing antibiotics.  There is high prevalence of self-medication with 199 (56.4%) of the respondents that always self-medicate.  Majority, 173 (49.1%) of the respondents strongly agree that self-medication and over-the-counter dispensing antibiotics can cause addiction to medications. 294(83.6%) of the respondents strongly agree that Educating students on the negative effects of over-the-counter dispensing antibiotics can minimize self-medication and over-the-counter dispensing antibiotics. However, emphasis should be on the adverse effects of drugs in schools of nursing and Further Large-scale study with a representative sample size is recommended to be conducted in the future.

Keywords:  Reasons, Knowledge, Perceived Effects, Self-Medication, Over-The-Counter Dispensing Antibiotics.