Nehan Syed, Moomal Naseer, Muhammad Qasim Memon, Kenjhar Rani.
Prevalence of Self-Medication and its Practice among the Medical and Non-Medical Students.
J Liaquat Uni Med Health Sci Jan ;13(02):79-82.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of self-medication among the medical and non-medical university students of Sindh (Pakistan). METHODOLOGY: A Questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from Aug-Sept 2013. A convenient sampling of 400 (50% medical and 50% non-medical) students was done among universities of Sindh (Pakistan).Undergraduate students of age group (18-23) were included whereas postgraduate students, house officers were excluded. Data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the social sciences) version 16. RESULTS: Frequency of self-medication was found to be 80%. 81% of non-medical and 81% of male students were prone to self-medication. 45% of males and 47% of medical students are aware of the contra indications when compared to females (37%) and non-medical students (33%). 2. 75% of males and 88% of medical students know about the uses of the medicine compared to females (67%) and non-medical students (54%). 39% males and 52% medical students have knowledge of the complications than to the females (38%) and non-medical students (25%). The commonest health problems for which students seek self-medication are headache (40%), fever (19.5%), flu (5.2%) . CONCLUSION: Self-medication is significantly high in the educated youth. Male and non-medical students are prone to self-medication. Self-medication among males is found to be practiced more among the Muslim States.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com