Analgesic Use among Al-Baqa’a Refugees in Jordan: A Cross-sectional Survey of Knowledge and Practices

Background: Self-medication with analgesics is a common practice among underserved populations, particularly refugees with limited access to healthcare. This study assessed the knowledge and practices regarding analgesic use among refugees in the Al-Baqa’a camp, Jordan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 adult refugees using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic, healthcare access, knowledge, and practices related to analgesic use were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v26, including Chi-square, t -test, and analysis of variance, with a significance threshold of P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of self-medicated analgesic use was 78.3%. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the most used drugs, mainly for headaches, joint pain, and fever. A significant portion of participants lacked health insurance (33.6%) and cited cost barriers (66.4%) as a reason for not seeking professional care. While 68.8% of participants demonstrated good knowledge, gaps remained, particularly regarding maximum dosages and the safety of over the counter medications. Females and married individuals were more likely to read drug labels and check expiry dates ( P < 0.001). Educational level was significantly associated with higher knowledge scores ( P = 0.014) and 79.4% of participants exhibited generally safe practices. Conclusion: Analgesic use is prevalent in the Al-Baqa’a camp, driven largely by financial barriers to healthcare. Although most participants had good knowledge and practices, important misconceptions and malpractices persist. Public health interventions targeting education on safe analgesic use are essential, especially among individuals with lower education and limited healthcare access.