Eunice Odigie

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.

The study was designed to elicit the Impact of Social Media influence on Sexually Transmitted Infection Preventive Practices Among Undergraduates. To achieve this, research questions were formulated during the course of the study. To explore these research questions, descriptive statistics and frequency count was used for the study and sectioned designed questions were used as the instrument for data collection. The sample size for the study consists of 247 students from the six faculties out of the fourteen
faculties. The instrument was validated by three experts from the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education, University of Benin. Based on the findings, recommendations were made. There is need to examine gender and other health related factors that predict interactive media preferences.

This study investigated the factors influencing the health behaviour of full-time undergraduates at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 150 respondents selected through proportionate sampling from various faculties across the institution. A self-structured questionnaire titled Survey on Factors Influencing Health Behaviour among Undergraduates in the University of Benin was used for data collection. The instrument’s reliability, established through a pilot study at Ambrose Alli University, yielded a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.708, indicating acceptable reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores, while chi-square tests were used to determine relationships between selected variables at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that although majority students engage in positive practices such as avoiding substance use, maintaining good hygiene, and exercising occasionally, negative behaviours such as poor diet, inadequate rest, and excessive screen time remain prevalent. Major factors influencing students’ health behaviour included peer pressure, academic workload, financial constraints, and limited access to credible health information and quality healthcare services. The study concluded that health behaviour among undergraduates is shaped by a complex interplay of personal, social, and institutional factors. It recommended that the university strengthen health promotion programmes, improve the accessibility and quality of campus health services, and integrate health education into student orientation and
wellness activities