Evaluation of Self-Medication Among Non-Medical Lebanese International University Students in Sana'a City, Yemen
Khaled Al-Akhali1,2,3, Abdullah Mahyuob1★★ Corresponding author
- 1Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Thamar University, Dhamar, YEMEN.
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Lebanese International University, School of Pharmacy, YEMEN.
- 3Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Al-Saeeda University, Sana’a, YEMEN.
CORRESPONDENCE
Abdullah Mahyuob
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Thamar University, Dhamar, YEMEN.
Received: 13-04-2026; Revised: 08-05-2026; Accepted: 29-06-2026.
Volume 19, Issue 4 · pp. 531–539 · PUBLISHED 2026 · DOI: 10.5530/ijopp.20260888
ABSTRACT
Background: Self-medication, especially among college students, is becoming a major global public health concern. Nevertheless, nothing is known about its frequency among Yemeni non-medical students. Objectives: To evaluate self-medication practices among non-medical students at the Lebanese International University (LIU) in Sana'a, Yemen. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from October to November of 2022. 500 eligible students were given a structured, self-administered questionnaire; 320 valid replies (response rate of 64.6%) were examined. Sociodemographic information, self-medication behaviors, common indications, therapeutic classes used, and reasons influencing the practice were evaluated. descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to assess the data. Results: 37.81% of students reported using self-medication in the previous year, with the most common diseases treated with self-medication being headache (80.94%) and common cold (69.06%). The most often utilized therapeutic classes were antipyretics (55.31%) and anti-inflammatory medications (77.81%). Significant gender disparities were found, whereas females were more likely than males to read pharmacological information (p=0.001) and practice self-medication (>5 times), whereas males were more likely to seek pharmacists (p=0.004). The belief that the health issue was not dangerous was the main driver of self-medication (79.06%). The dangers of overdosing were well-known (91.88%), but the risks of reducing the dosage were less well-known (44.69%). Conclusion: LIU non-medical students frequently self-medicate, mostly for mild illnesses. There are still gaps in knowledge about antibiotic use and dosage safety, despite a reasonable awareness of the hazards in general. Targeted educational interventions and strengthened regulatory oversight are recommended.
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Al-Akhali, K., & Mahyuob, A. (2026). Evaluation of Self-Medication Among Non-Medical Lebanese International University Students in Sana'a City, Yemen. Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 19(4), 531–539. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijopp.20260888