KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IBADAN NORTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

Previous researches conducted in Nigeria identified a high prevalence of self-medication among adolescents and younger-aged people compared to the older ones. Knowledge had been identified to be a cogent factor in practicing self-medication, however, the effect of knowledge on attitude and practice of self-medication had not been well documented. This study therefore explored the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among senior secondary school students in Ibadan North-West Local Government Area, (LGA) Oyo State, Nigeria. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A five stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 435 students attending 7 public and private secondary schools. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, practice and factors influencing self-medication. Knowledge was scored on a 9-point scale; scores of <3, 4 – 6 and >6 were classified as poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. Attitude was scored on a 9-point scale; scores of <4 and >4 were rated as good and poor attitude respectively. Practice was also scored on a 6-point scale; scores of 0, 1 – 6 were categorized as non- practicing and practicing respectively. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p=0.05 were used. Respondent’s mean age was 15.33±1.51 years. More than half (53.7%) of the respondents were female while many (67.8%) of the respondents were within the ages of 14 and 16 years. Over two-third (69.7%) were Christians while more than three-quarter (75.7%) were Yoruba. Majority (92.1%) of the respondents had knowledge score of <3, that is, poor knowledge. Only 9% had score of 4-6, that is, fair knowledge while none had knowledge score of 6-9, that is, none had good knowledge of self-medication. Most (90.2%) of the respondents had attitude score of 5-9, that is, poor attitude (they reported self-medication was not appropriate) while only 9.8% fell in the score range of 1-4 which is good attitude towards self-medication. More than three-quarter of the respondents (88.5%) practiced self-medication, that is, they had practice scores of 1-6 while only 11.5% did not practice self-medication. Most of the respondents reported ‘non-

severity of the illness’, ‘lack of clinics in schools’, ‘recommendation from parents or guardians’, ‘previous experience about a particular illness’, and ‘effectiveness of medication when used’ as factors influencing their self-medication practices. This study showed that although knowledge was poor, respondents still perceived that self-medication was not appropriate. The prevalence of self-medication was very high while the social environment greatly influenced their self-medication practices. Strategies such as Health education (using group dialogue, peer educators, counseling and lectures to educate the students, parents and school administrators about self-medication) and Advocacy (to facilitate policy formation relating to regulation of medication sales, incorporating sick-bays in schools and introducing knowledge of self-medication into the secondary school curriculum) would be appropriate strategies to reduce self-medication practices.