Self-Medication Practices and Associated Factors among Nurses Working in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Self-medication is a contemporary public health issue because it has potential risks associated with many underlying health conditions  that can lead to death. Despite all this, it is a common practice in both developed and developing countries. The study assessed the Self- medication Practices and associated factors among Nurses working in Birnin Kudu Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional  descriptive research design was used for the study to collect data from 246 respondents using a systematic sampling technique. A  structured self-administered questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. The result  revealed that 62.8% of the respondents practised self–medication. Analgesic drugs were most commonly used in self–medication (66.2%),  followed by Anti-allergy ((38.4%), Antibiotics (38.4%), Antipyretics (23.9%), Anti-diarrheal (20.6%), Antacid (17.3%), Vitamins  (4.1%), and eye drops (2.1%). The respondents identified easy access to drugs, availability of drugs, easy relief of simple illnesses, fear of  long queues in the health centres, high cost of care in the health centres, lack of access to health centres and peer group influence as the  factors influencing their decision to engage in selfmedication. It can be concluded that the level of self-medication is higher among Nurses. It is recommended that there should be increasing awareness and education through seminars and workshops at all levels  regarding the importance of professional consultation before drug use.