UNDERSTANDING THE MISUSE OF PAINKILLERS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE FEMALE STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Background: Analgesic abuse refers to the act of taking analgesic agents without proper prescriptions, thereby misusing the agents, which can be detrimental to health of the individual. The levels of knowledge and attitudes towards the effects of analgesic abuse among University of Port Harcourt undergraduate female students involves the misused habits and practices in other to relief menstrual pain and stress. In the cause of pain relief, the analgesic abuse effects can cause ulcer due to its accumulated acid nature, example of this drug is felvin, ibuprofen, Panadol etc. Aim of study: This study aims to assess student’s levels of knowledge and attitude towards the effects of analgesic abuse amongst female undergraduate students in the University of Port Harcourt, Choba. descriptive survey design was adopted. Materials and Methods: The target population for this study comprised 2000 students in Choba campus, and the sample size was 100. Results: The data obtained from the participants showed that the bio data where majority of students from Health science (31.25%), educational levels of respondents were majority of year 1 and 2 year students (43.75%), students level of knowledge about analgesic abuse is significantly increased (43.8%), there was a moderate preventive practice among the students (56.3%), the sources of information among students about analgesic abuse increased (43.8% and 56.3%),there is an increased level of enlightenment of the causes of analgesic abuse (68.8% and 50%), there is a moderate level of advocates to the preventive measures of analgesic abuse among the female students. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for training and lectures for the students on the general concept of analgesic abuse. It further underscores the need for government and school management to ensure the provision of health care commodities and regular supportive supervision at all levels of educational status.