DANGERS OF SELF MEDICATION PRACTICES AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN-CITY, EDO STATE

The purpose of the study is to examine the dangers of self-medication practice among Undergraduates in University Of Benin. To achieve the purpose of the study, four (4) research questions were raised and answered, and important literature related to dangers of self-medication were clearly discussed. The descriptive research design was adopted for this study and the population consisted of undergraduates students in the University of Benin during the 2024/2025 academic session. With a total population of about forty three thousand, six hundred and seventy nine (43,679) undergraduate students. A total of four hundred and eighty (480) students were selected to represent the population of the study. The instrument used for data collection was a well-structured close-ended questionnaire with sixteen (16) items. The questionnaire was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. The test retest reliability method was used to establish the reliability of the questionnaire. A total of four hundred and eighty (480) questionnaires were administered to the sample and data collected was analysed using frequency count, percentage mean, and standard deviation. The study found that undergraduates of the University of Benin engage in self-medication, often influenced by factors such as academic pressure, financial constraints, easy access to drugs, cultural beliefs, and information from social media. Commonly used medications include antimalarials, pain relievers, contraceptives, and antibiotics. Although some students reported infrequent use, the practice remains widespread and poses serious risks, including drug resistance, adverse reactions, misdiagnosis, psychological dependence, and long-term health complications. The study therefore recommended strengthening campus health services to provide affordable and accessible medical care, organizing regular awareness campaigns, enforcing stricter control of prescription only drugs, promoting peer education and student led health advocacy, and integrating health education into academic programs to equip students with the knowledge to make informed health decisions.