DANGERS OF SELF MEDICATION

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.

This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge of practice and dangers of self-medication among undergraduates of University of Benin". This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the studycomprised of the entire forty-one thousand, one hundred and ninety six (41,196)undergraduates of the University of Benin, while the sample population used were451respondents. The instrument used is a questionnaire validated by the project supervisorand two other experts in the department of Health, Safety and Environmental Educationin the University of Benin. The Pearson Product Moment correlation was usedtoestablish the reliability of the instrument. Three research questions were raisedfor thepurpose of the study. The findings revealed that the practice of Self-medication among undergraduatesofUniversity of Benin is high. The dangers of self-medication as perceivedbyundergraduates of University of Benin includes; negative drug interaction, incorrect diagnosis, incorrect treatment of ailments and antibiotic resistance. UndergraduatesofUniversity of Benin engage in self-medication because of lack of awareness about drugadministration, difficulty in accessing healthcare facilities, ease of obtaining over thecounter drugs, financial constraints and time constraints. From the research findings, thefollowing recommendations were made; students should seek advice froma healthcareprofessional in cases of serious or persistent symptoms to ensure accurate diagnosis andappropriate treatment, organizing health education programs within the school will raiseawareness about the risks associated with self-medication and promote responsiblehealthcare practices and the school should invest in healthcare infrastructures as this will improve accessibility and quality of healthcare services.

This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge of practice and dangers of self-medication among undergraduates of University of Benin". This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the studycomprised of the entire forty-one thousand, one hundred and ninety six (41,196)undergraduates of the University of Benin, while the sample population used were451respondents. The instrument used is a questionnaire validated by the project supervisorand two other experts in the department of Health, Safety and Environmental Educationin the University of Benin. The Pearson Product Moment correlation was usedtoestablish the reliability of the instrument. Three research questions were raisedfor thepurpose of the study. The findings revealed that the practice of Self-medication among undergraduatesofUniversity of Benin is high. The dangers of self-medication as perceivedbyundergraduates of University of Benin includes; negative drug interaction, incorrect diagnosis, incorrect treatment of ailments and antibiotic resistance. UndergraduatesofUniversity of Benin engage in self-medication because of lack of awareness about drugadministration, difficulty in accessing healthcare facilities, ease of obtaining over thecounter drugs, financial constraints and time constraints. From the research findings, thefollowing recommendations were made; students should seek advice froma healthcareprofessional in cases of serious or persistent symptoms to ensure accurate diagnosis andappropriate treatment, organizing health education programs within the school will raiseawareness about the risks associated with self-medication and promote responsiblehealthcare practices and the school should invest in healthcare infrastructures as this will improve accessibility and quality of healthcare services