Knowledge, Prevalence and Factors Associated with Self-medication among University Students in Kano, Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study
Chinenye Charity Ike
Department of Public Health, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Yolo Bakumor Smith *
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Self-medication is common in university settings and carries well-documented risks including antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug reactions, and delayed care. Students are particularly exposed, given their autonomy and easy access to medicines without prescriptions. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, prevalence, and factors associated with self-medication among students at Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 354 students selected by multi-stage sampling, combining proportionate stratified allocation across academic levels with consecutive recruitment within strata. Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge of self-medication was assessed with a validated ten-item scale and categorised as good (score ≥7), fair (5–6), or poor (≤4). Data were analysed in IBM SPSS version 27 using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression (P ≤ .05).
Results: All 354 questionnaires were completed (response rate 100%). Self-medication was reported by 235 respondents (66.4%, 95% CI: 61.5%–71.3%). Most respondents (232, 65.5%) demonstrated good knowledge of self-medication, assessed using a ten-item scale. Across 1,408 total responses, CNS stimulants (13.4%), antimalarials (12.7%), and antibiotics (12.6%) were the most frequently reported drug categories. On chi-square analysis, ethnicity (χ² = 7.94, P = .047) and income source (χ² = 9.42, P = .024) were significantly associated with self-medication behaviour; knowledge level was not (χ² = 1.41, P = .494). On binary logistic regression, Yoruba students were significantly less likely to self-medicate than Hausa students (aOR = 0.475, 95% CI: 0.238–0.948, P = .035), and students earning through personal work were significantly less likely to self-medicate than those supported by parents or guardians (aOR = 0.500, 95% CI: 0.278–0.900, P = .021).
Conclusion: Self-medication was highly prevalent among students at Bayero University, Kano, despite most demonstrating good knowledge of associated risks. The absence of a significant knowledge-practice association, alongside the significance of ethnicity and income source, suggests that structural and socio-cultural factors are stronger drivers of the practice than awareness alone. Interventions should prioritise improving affordable healthcare access, regulating drug sales at the point of purchase, and addressing the specific socio-cultural contexts that shape health-seeking behaviour among university students in Northern Nigeria.
Keywords: Self-medication, prevalence, knowledge, university students, antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, Nigeria, cross-sectional study.