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FACTORS
INFLUENCING PRACTICE OF SELF MEDICATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS
ABSTRACT
This study
examined factors influencing practice of self medication among undergraduates
of University of Lagos, Akoka. The sample studied consisted of 125
undergraduates from four faculties of University of Lagos, Akoka. The research
instrument used in carrying out this study is a self developed questionnaire of
20 items. The data gathered was analysed using simple percentage table. Results
from the findings show that peer, attitude of school clinic staff, over the
counter sale of drugs and the nature of illness have significant influence on
the practice of self medication among undergraduates. The study recommended
that the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant government agencies create
more awareness on the dangers of self medication and also ensure that street
drug vendors and other unauthorized agencies are totally prevented from selling
drugs.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
a.Background
of the Study
Medication
refers to the act of consuming medicines for prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of diseases correct medication is observed by reporting any disease
to the physician at the hospital or clinic who diagnoses and prescribes the
needed drugs to alleviate the condition. This is usually followed by filling of
such prescription at the pharmacy by pharmacists Femi-Oyewo et al (2002).Self
medication can be defined as the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorder
or symptoms or the intermittent or confined use of a prescribed drugs for
chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. Over the counter drugs are a form of
self-medication, the buyer diagnoses his own illness and buys a specific drug
to treat it WHO (2007).
Self
medication is often seen as gaining personal independence from established Medicare.
According to the joint statement by the International Pharmaceutical Federation
& World Self-medication Industry, self Medication is the use of
non-prescription medicines by people on their own initiative. It also states
that:
1. Self-care which includes self medication has
been a feature of health care for many years.
2. Nowadays people are beginning to accept more
personal responsibility for their health status and to obtain as much sound
information as possible from expert sources in order to help them make
appropriate decision in healthcare.
3. Government and health insurers are
increasingly encouraging self-care, including self-medication when appropriate
as one means of limiting the rate of increase in third party funding of health
care.
4. Pharmacists are advisors to the public on
everyday healthcare and key factors in the supply of and advice on medicines.
5. Advertising is helpful in informing people
about medicines that are available without prescription. It should always be responsible
and should not discourage the individual from seeking advice from a pharmacist
or physician.
Generally
people usually have different remedies for whatever illness you can think of.
For example, fever, cold, catarrh, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, body
pains, headache etc. friends or even strangers are always ready to advice on
which medication to take, this can be dangerous, even though there is usually
no immediate consequence. This suggests that self-medication has become a
public health threat in our society at large. Consider the fact that in Nigeria
most prescription drugs can be bought from pharmacies and patent medicine
stores and even along the streets without prescription.
Self-medication
is also the act of obtaining and consuming drugs without advice of a doctor
either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance treatment. It should be
known that medicines are chemicals which can have both good and bad effect on
the human body.
Indeed just
as medicines can cure, they can also harm. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s
dictionary defined an undergraduate, as a universally or college student who is
studying for their first degree. Some studies have reported alarming rates of
self-medication in student population. An example is a study carried out by the
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical, microbiology faculty of
Pharmaceutical sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria, titled
“Evaluation of Antibiotics self-medication pattern amongst Undergraduate
students of Ahmadu Bello University (Main Campus), Zaria”, it was found that
self-medication was practiced by a majority of the respondents. And that
self-medication with antibiotics was mostly practiced among students of health
related faculties i.e pharmaceutical sciences and medicine the major reasons
given for self medicating with antibiotics were:
a. Assumed knowledge on antibiotics
b. Prior experience on the use
c. Lack of time to go for consultation
d. Attitude of school clinic staff.
While the
conditions for which antibiotics were taken include; Gastro intestinal tract
infections urinary tract infections and skin infection. More so the university
environment is also a contributing factor in the involvement of youth in self
medication. This is because there is no parental supervision and it is the
students’ first opportunity outside home and opportunity to be part of a larger
group without any form of constraint or rule. Also tertiary institutions have been
alleged as the last period of freedom before adulthood which comes with
responsibilities and duties thus students are more vulnerable and gullible to
try out new things however harmful.
In spite of
several awareness and enlightment campaign the practice of self medication is
still eminent. In combating self-medication, there is a need to know the
factors that influence the practice of self-medication (i.e those factors that
encourage the practice of self-medication among undergraduates.
This study
was carried out among undergraduate of university of lagos Akoka, Lagos State.
b. Statement
of the Problem
As a medical
personnel, the researcher has observed that several cases of allergic reactions
and severe adverse effects following drug use have been traced down to
self-medication. It has also been observed that an increasing number of people
presenting at the hospitals for treatment practice self-medication which in
most cases worsen their state of health.
Self
medication also leads to drugs-interactions, wrong treatment for the wrong
problem, drug-resentence, insanity and even death. More and more young people
are becoming victims of self-medication, may be due to their experimental
nature. It is therefore important to study the influence of self-medication
among undergraduates of University of Lagos.
c. Purpose
of Study
The purpose
of the study is to examine those factors that influence the practice of
self-medication among undergraduate of University of Lagos.
d. Research
Questions
The study
intends to answer the following questions:
1. Will peers influence the practice of
self-medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos?
2. Will attitude of school clinic staff
influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos?
3. Will over-the-counter sale of drugs
influence the practice of self medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos?
4. Will
nature of illness influence the practice of self-medication among
undergraduates of University of Lagos?
e.Research
Hypotheses
1. Peers will influence the practice of
self-medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos.
2. Attitude of school clinic staff will not
influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos.
3. Over-the-counter sale of drugs will
influence the practice of self medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos.
4. Nature of illness will not influence the practice of
self-medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos.
f.Delimitation
of the Study
This is
study is delimitated to:
1. University of Lagos.
2. Undergraduate in 100 to 500 level.
3. Four faculties of social sciences,
environmental science, engineering, and education.
4. A self developed questionnaire.
5. Self medication.
6. Determinant factors of peer influence,
gender, attitude of school clinic staff, over the counter sale of drugs, nature
of illness.
g.
Limitations of the Study
During the
study, the researcher encountered the following limitations:
1. The number of questionnaires distributed is
not enough to represent the University of Lagos.
2. Little information is available about the
influence of the practice of self medication.
3. Some students who were approached declined
participation in the research.
h.
Significance of the Study
The
researcher expects that through this study the University of Lagos could create
strategic solutions to tackle the practice of self-medication among its
students. This study is expected to assist future researchers on this topic as
a reference.
This
research might be an eye-opener to the factors that influence undergraduate of
University of Lagos to practice self medication through the specific findings
of the study.
i.Operational Definition of Terms
Self
medication: it is the use of drug without a doctor’s prescription to treat
perceived or real malady or to alleviate distress or pain.
Factors:
Things that contribute or lead to the practice of self medication.
Influence: A
power affecting undergraduates’ choice to practice or not to practice self
medication.
Practice: To
perform self medication habitually or usually.
Undergraduates:
Persons studying at the University of Lagos for a first degree, in both full-time
and sandwich programmes.
Gender:
Characteristics of the undergraduate being male or female.
Peer: People
who are of equal age, education or social class with the undergraduate.
Over- the
–counter: Medicines that are sold directly to consumers without prescription
from a healthcare professional
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