HALLS OF RESIDENCE

This study assesses the knowledge of the dangers of self-medications in the halls of residents among students in the University of Benin. Four research questions were asked and answered during the study using frequencies and percentages. The survey research design was adopted for this study; this is because the data is collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. The target population will be 12,240. This study comprised full-time undergraduate students residing in the University hostels during the 2024/2025 academic session. Out of this population one hundred and fifty (150) sample was selected from the total population using randomly sampling technique and purposive sampling. The instrument used to collect data for the study was fifteen items self-structured questionnaire. The instrument for the data collection was personally administered by the researcher to the respondents. The researcher explained to the respondents how to indicate their views on each item. On the basis of the findings made in the study, it can be concluded that while students exhibit a moderate level of knowledge about the dangers of self-medication, this knowledge is not sufficiently deep or widespread to effectively curb the practice. The researcher recommends that university authorities should intensify health education programmes, including seminars and orientation talks, to deepen students’ understanding of the risks associated with self-medication. Also, the researcher recommends that efforts should be made to provide accessible and affordable healthcare services within the halls of residence, thereby reducing the economic motivation to self-medicate. Finally, university management should enforce existing policies or develop new ones that discourage self-medication, accompanied by visible sanctions and continuous awareness campaigns.

This study titled "Awareness, Attitudes, and Practices of Breast Self-Examination among Female Students in the University of Benin Halls of Residence" aims to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and regular practice of BSE among young women in a Nigerian university setting, with the primary goal of identifying gaps that hinder early breast cancer detection and informing targeted health education interventions. The research is grounded in behavioral theories such as the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore the cognitive, emotional, and socio-cultural factors influencing BSE practices among this population. It employs a cross-sectional survey design utilizing structured questionnaires administered to female students residing in the university halls of residence, with data analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods to determine awareness levels, attitudes, and practice patterns. The findings reveal that while a significant proportion of the students have heard of BSE, actual practice remains low, with only a minority performing it regularly and correctly. Common barriers identified include lack of adequate knowledge, cultural taboos related to modesty, fear of discovering abnormalities, and insufficient privacy, all of which contribute to poor engagement in BSE. Based on these results, the study recommends implementing culturally sensitive health education programs within university settings to improve awareness and correct misconceptions about BSE, emphasizing the importance of regular practice for early detection of breast abnormalities. It also suggests the need for policy-level interventions to create private and supportive environments that facilitate proper BSE practices among young women to reduce the incidence and mortality associated with breast cancer.