Evaluation of Self-Medication Among Non-Medical Lebanese International University Students in Sana'a City, Yemen

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.

Keywords: Lebanese International University; Non-medical Students; Practices; Prescription; drug misuse; Self-medication; Yemen