PREVALENCE AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Self-medication, defined as the use of medications for self-diagnosed conditions without professional consultation, is a growing public health concern, particularly among university students. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and determinants of self-medication among 234 undergraduate students using a structured questionnaire and analyzing data with IBM SPSS Statistics (version 26). The study found a high self-medication prevalence of 95.7%, with pain relief and headaches being the most frequently reported reasons (73.9%). The main determinant factor was ease and accessibility of medications (52.6%). Although knowledge levels significantly influenced students’ perceptions of self-medication safety, predictors were not analyzed with multivariate methods; thus, independent predictors cannot be conclusively established. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including health education, regulation of medication access, and improved availability of affordable professional healthcare, to reduce reliance on self-medication and promote safer health practices among students.