Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates
Self-medication has been identified as a prevalent practice in Nigeria as it provides a ready low-cost alternative in low-income countries. The current study aims to assess the influence of knowledge of and experience of COVID-19 symptoms on self-medication behaviour in a cross-section of Nigerian u...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2022.2049480 |
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| author | Ibukunoluwa Busayo Bello Ebenezer Olutope Akinnawo Bede Chinonye Akpunne Adenike Mopa-Egbunu |
| author_facet | Ibukunoluwa Busayo Bello Ebenezer Olutope Akinnawo Bede Chinonye Akpunne Adenike Mopa-Egbunu |
| author_sort | Ibukunoluwa Busayo Bello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Self-medication has been identified as a prevalent practice in Nigeria as it provides a ready low-cost alternative in low-income countries. The current study aims to assess the influence of knowledge of and experience of COVID-19 symptoms on self-medication behaviour in a cross-section of Nigerian undergraduates. Three hundred fifty-six university undergraduates across 31 Nigerian universities was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak between May and August 2020 to observe the prevalence of knowledge and experience of COVID-19 symptoms, the frequency and type of medications utilised for self-medication and the influence of socio-demographic variables, specifically gender, on self-medication in undergraduates. The mean age of respondents was 20.34 years. A majority (90.4%) of the sample recognised breathing difficulties as a symptom of COVID-19 symptoms. Self-medication was noted among respondents, with a prevalence of 65.4%. Paracetamol was the most commonly used drug for self-medication for perceived COVID-19 symptoms. Knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms did not significantly predict self-medication {F(1, 352) = 1.277, p < .005; however, the experience of COVID-19 symptoms significantly predicted self-medication {F(1, 352) = 51.305, p > .005 in the sample. Self-medication practice did not differ significantly between male and female undergraduates. Prevalence of self-medication is high in the present cohort, and continuous awareness and sensitisation about the risks of self-medication will be of immense benefit to the health status of young adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:57:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6fb83ca234ed48f7a6aee308e785e173 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1983 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:57:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-6fb83ca234ed48f7a6aee308e785e1732022-12-22T03:26:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Arts & Humanities2331-19832022-12-019110.1080/23311983.2022.2049480Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduatesIbukunoluwa Busayo Bello0Ebenezer Olutope Akinnawo1Bede Chinonye Akpunne2Adenike Mopa-Egbunu3Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Behavioural Studies, Redeemer’s University, EdeFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Behavioural Studies, Redeemer’s University, EdeFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Behavioural Studies, Redeemer’s University, EdeFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Behavioural Studies, Redeemer’s University, EdeSelf-medication has been identified as a prevalent practice in Nigeria as it provides a ready low-cost alternative in low-income countries. The current study aims to assess the influence of knowledge of and experience of COVID-19 symptoms on self-medication behaviour in a cross-section of Nigerian undergraduates. Three hundred fifty-six university undergraduates across 31 Nigerian universities was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak between May and August 2020 to observe the prevalence of knowledge and experience of COVID-19 symptoms, the frequency and type of medications utilised for self-medication and the influence of socio-demographic variables, specifically gender, on self-medication in undergraduates. The mean age of respondents was 20.34 years. A majority (90.4%) of the sample recognised breathing difficulties as a symptom of COVID-19 symptoms. Self-medication was noted among respondents, with a prevalence of 65.4%. Paracetamol was the most commonly used drug for self-medication for perceived COVID-19 symptoms. Knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms did not significantly predict self-medication {F(1, 352) = 1.277, p < .005; however, the experience of COVID-19 symptoms significantly predicted self-medication {F(1, 352) = 51.305, p > .005 in the sample. Self-medication practice did not differ significantly between male and female undergraduates. Prevalence of self-medication is high in the present cohort, and continuous awareness and sensitisation about the risks of self-medication will be of immense benefit to the health status of young adults.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2022.2049480COVID-19 symptomsCOVID-19 knowledgeself-medicationundergraduatesNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Ibukunoluwa Busayo Bello Ebenezer Olutope Akinnawo Bede Chinonye Akpunne Adenike Mopa-Egbunu Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates Cogent Arts & Humanities COVID-19 symptoms COVID-19 knowledge self-medication undergraduates Nigeria |
| title | Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates |
| title_full | Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates |
| title_short | Knowledge of COVID-19 and preventive measures on self-medication practices among Nigerian undergraduates |
| title_sort | knowledge of covid 19 and preventive measures on self medication practices among nigerian undergraduates |
| topic | COVID-19 symptoms COVID-19 knowledge self-medication undergraduates Nigeria |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2022.2049480 |
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