Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding self-medication among students at a private university in Uganda: A cross-sectional study

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Background Self-medication is a significant global public health concern, notably among university students. Self-medication is becoming an important area within healthcare. It allows patients to achieve greater independence in making decisions about the management of minor illnesses, but also poses risks such as misdiagnosis, inappropriate dosages, drug interactions, and polypharmacy. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to self-medication among students at a private university in Uganda. Methods The study used a robust cross-sectional design, with stratified and convenience sampling to select 346 participants. Data were collected through online and physical surveys and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Self-medication was prevalent among 67.3% (95% CI: 62.4 – 72.3%) of the participants. 59% (95% CI: 54.0 – 63.9%) demonstrated a good understanding of self-medication. Students showed positive attitudes, with 4.16 (±0.936) agreeing on the importance of consulting healthcare professionals before self-medicating, and 4.28 (±0.909) believing in the necessity of regulations and controls on the dispensing of medicines. Painkillers were the most commonly self-administered drugs, at 91.9% (95% CI: 88.7 – 95.1%). Conclusion Despite having a good level of knowledge and positive attitudes, students still practice self-medication unsafely. This study provides valuable insights into self-medication among university students in Uganda, highlighting a gap between knowledge, attitudes, and actual practices. While students demonstrate good awareness and a positive attitude toward self-medication, unsafe practices remain prevalent, particularly the misuse of painkillers and reliance on unverified information sources. There is a need for health education in schools about the dangers of self-medication misuse, to mitigate the practice, or to enforce better and safer practices.

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