Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Self-medication, defined as the use of medications to treat self-diagnosed ailments without consulting a healthcare professional, is prevalent worldwide. Approximately 50% of all antibiotics are obtained without a prescription, highlighting the widespread practice of selfmedication. The consequences of antibiotic self-medication are manifold, particularly in developing countries, where factors such as poverty, limited access to medical professionals, and misconceptions about healthcare exacerbate the issue. Self-medication with antibiotics poses risks such as inappropriate drug use, leading to drug interactions, masking of underlying diseases, and the development of antibiotic resistance. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the frequency, prevalence, reasons, conditions, sources and practice of self-medication of antibiotics among nursing students in the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study administered by convenient sampling of undergraduate nursing students between February and March, 2024 in the University of Benin. A 29 item self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit responses based on the objectives of the study. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS version 29 was used for descriptive analysis. Results were expressed as percentages. RESULTS: The majority of respondents were female (81.4%), aged 21-24 (72.9%), and 400- level students (61.0%). A majority 143(79.8%) of them agreed to have self-medicated with antibiotics. The most frequently self-medicated antibiotic was metronidazole 73 (41.2%), the major reason for their self-medication was a good knowledge of antibiotics 116 (67.2%). Cough 69 (39.0%) was the major condition for self-medication. The internet 137 (77.4%) was their major source of information about antibiotics. CONCLUSION: There is a high rate of self-medication of antibiotics among nursing students in the University of Benin. Nursing students in the University of Benin believe that because they have a good knowledge of antibiotics they should be able to self-medicate with them. Metronidazole is the most frequently self- medicated antibiotic among Nursing students in the University of Benin
